Comic book creators have one of the most privileged positions in the world. They get the honor of moving through childhood’s domain, and making a career in compelling adults to return to the world of imagination. Adult comic writers have the pleasure of making sense of adult realities, by going into that creative realm. They are creative therapists, for the adult world. Of even greater fascination is how they make this world a safer avenue for adults, who secretly yearn to experience this world of freedom. In fact, it permits them to enter fiction, and bring it to the current reality. In a terse amount of words, reality becomes more colorful and adventurous. In the world of comics, life is sweet. Even dramatic stories are enriched with a journey of triumph and fruition. And should they not be drafted into the initial phase, they can paint them within the next journey. That’s fine, too.
At the American University In Cairo, the Downtown campus has been a space of comic strip showcases and exhibitions. They have portrayed different themes. And each exhibition features new, Egyptian artists, who are making their name in the comic story scene. There are multiple realities of highlighting the myriad themes of Cairo and the city life. From romance to beauty, parenthood, and other essentials, different realms come to awaken the sphere in how we are to experience the urban landscapes of life in Cairo, Egypt. One of these relates is our ability to move through the different avenues within this realm. When such Egyptian artists present us with this imaginary world, we are provided with a holistic experience of moving through myriad personas. Such includes different scenes of Cairo, that we have never experienced prior to. Different conversations and forms of joys we have yet to experience and navigate through, when traveling to such spacing.
One of the joys of Cairo, and especially at the American University In Cairo, are the events and wonders you can randomly come on upon; through a simple walk or in sporadically taking an adventure. So, on this special day, we had come across the Cairo3 Comix event. A huge sign hung out on the Tahrir, Downtown campus. It was fascinating to observe how the world of childhood’s fantasy had, again, made its way into the gardens of AUC’s Downtown Tahrir campus. Though, such spacing is sometimes overlooked, it too, has its special allure and element. Once seeing the sign, we knew we had to enter. It was imperative, as who knew what awaited our observations, once inside.
Yes! Our curiousity had been right. There were different displays of one sector of the comic world in Cairo, Egypt. It began from September 22-24, 2017. And, we were fortunate enough to catch the last day of the Cairo3 Comix Exhibition. As with the New Cairo campus, the Downtown, Tahrir campus is, too, met with many surprises. The Cairo3 Comix Exhibition was a wonderland for adulthood. It was the performance of adults entering into their own reflection of what could possibly be. This other way of creating as an adult, and returning to the fantasies of childhood. Its that sacred world of nourishing creative freedom. Its a fearless attitude of movement, and the desire to explore all the Universal riches into an Earthly domain. Simply imagine having that same vitality and high energy of children, with an adult image. Wow! What a wonderful world we would have! What a fun and creative world, we would occupy, if people carried on those childhood imaginations into the adult phase! Not only would it be fun, but there would be, PEACE! Peace. Love. Play.
There were different, Egyptian, comic artists for that day. Bringing their stories and talents, to the center stage, they were real-life presentations and depictions of what happens when there are no restricted boundaries between childhood and adulthood.
There were different tables and display centered within the middle gardens of the American University In Cairo. Of course, there were horizontal posters, replicating the outside; making it clear that the comics have come to stay. Each comic creator was unique and special in their own way. They had a way of presenting different sides of Cairo, and how it brings out its own unique touch to the Egyptian, comic scene.
One of the most auspicious moments at the Cairo3 Comix Exhibition was my meeting of a mother-daughter pair of comic artists. Its a fascinating combo, to be frank. Observing such a pair of mother-daughter artists and their shared creativity is such a holistic experience. It truly is a living, breathing moment between that sacred bond between mother and daughter. Furthermore, its a dynamic performance in observing just how the precious it is for a mother to transfer parts of herself into her daughter. Knowing there are certain traces of her for the next generation of women in her her family, somewhere!
Frolicking around the spacing, we came to observe the different artistry, and serenity in the Cairo life, in the comic world. Chatting about. Laughing around. Talking about life, while getting to know different artists. The environment was calming and relaxing, at best. Even more fascinating was the opportunity to observe various forms of creativity, and thought processes of the human mind. It was a fascination to partake in, indeed! The weather was euphoric, and moving from booth to booth; a kindred Spirit was in the air.
One of the most exciting arenas of creating fantasy, through comic book tales, is how people can create their own SuperHero and SuperShero tales. Of an even greater fascination, they are able to make them applicable to their daily lives. If we want to go deeper, we can articulate this level of creativity, as taking a brief movement through magical-realism. That’s the beauty of comic book artistry. It gives you a way of crafting real life experiences, and reflecting them with those supernatural powers, we wish we could possess. Then, there is also the practice of depicting ourselves as cartoons. Either way, the playful energy of childhood’s domain continues to show up and display itself, within the adult world.
It was not the first comic exhibition on the AUC, Downtown (Tahrir) campus, that we had attended. What made it different was having the opportunity to interact longer with the comic artists, themselves. Furthermore, we had never met them before. And let’s not forget to mention that we had been outside. For our comic book ? adventures, that had been a first!
As time unfolds, the world will continue to illuminate its creativity. The comic book ? industry is just one of many. However, it does hold a special place in the world of human aesthetics. It requires true skill and measure for that particular genre. On an even deeper level, it demands that we reserve a part of us for that inner child, inside. That very part of us, which holds on and demands to be recognized. They little child screams and throws temper tantrums, until they have our undivided attention. Once they have achieved their aim, they lead us back to that sacred world of childhood’s domain. Its magical. Its precious. Its Divine! And in your adult phase, of having been reminded of that place, you collect pieces or chunks of it to carry back to you, in the real world! Making the adult world that much more fun comical, and childlike, in its own right!
