On July 16, the Museum hosted the presentation of the latest issue of “Inker”. This social graphic novel is a unique publication that tells the story of war through the language of visual narrative.
During the meeting, the magazine’s creative team focused on the history of the “Inker” project and addressed the challenges encountered on the way to earning the trust of readers and interviewees. All issues cover real events told by direct participants – soldiers, volunteers, and civilians. As the authors admitted, many protagonists hesitated before agreeing to share their stories. “People think a comic must be something funny. And sometimes they fear their stories will be mocked. Especially those who have endured captivity or occupation,” shared journalist Diana Lanovets. “Our main goal is to show that a comic can be serious. This is not about simplifying the story – it is a new form of preserving it”.
Diana led an interactive exercise: she presented one of the most recent interviews and invited the audience to think about what artistic techniques could be used to depict it. The story of farmers who, despite mined fields and constant shelling, continue to work, transformed before everyone’s eyes during an emotional discussion: guests reflected on visual metaphors, the sense of fear, explosions, and silence.
Artist Iryna Kostyshyna spoke about the importance of visual dramaturgy. According to her, every frame and every shadow in a graphic novel carries meaning no less than words. “This is not about a pretty picture — it’s about memory. A visual image stays with the viewer longer than numbers or reports”. Iryna emphasized.
At the end, the Inker team donated several printed copies of the magazine to the museum’s library and collection repository as a sign of trust in the place where historical memory and the voices of witnesses are preserved.
“ “Inker” seeks to delve into the inner world of those who have lived through war, but it does so not through a classic interview or chronicle. It is another way of reflection – through the rhythm of a frame, image, and color. A graphic novel allows us to see not only the event itself but also what remains between the words”, concluded the event’s moderator, Roman Kabachii, Head of the World War I Research Department.
