Komal Ashfaq is a young Pakistani Comics Artist. She has a bachelors degree in Business Administration. Haunted but Karachi is her famous comic work. Like many artists, she uses different social media platforms to showcase her work. Komalash is her art blog on Instagram. To live her dream, Komal is currently pursuing a degree in filmmaking from the US.
In this candid conversation with Daastan, We see Komal opening up about her experiences as an artist. Here’s the world of comics through her lens!
Rewind with Komal
Daastan invited Komal on a live session to converse about comics. Our Marketing Associate, Noor ul Huda Tahir hosted the session. In her brief introduction, Komal gave a glimpse of her artistic journey. As a kid, art intrigued her. She told Noor that she and her sister used to draw characters and make them talk. She also recalls her mother reading comics to her.
“Art became a huge part of my life from an early age.”
Komal’s First Brush with Death
To be a comic artist, one needs to have great drawing and storytelling skills. The process of discovering one’s inner storyteller is a unique experience. There are many factors that kickstart it. For Komal, her first brush with death was it. It left the painful memory of her grandma’s lifeless body in her mind. She has vivid recollections of it even to this day. Therefore, Komal turns to writing to deal with grief.
Art as an Expression of Emotions and Perspectives
Komal finds peace in art. She believes art coveys emotions and perspectives effectively. The act of creating and consuming art is not merely a habit for her. In Komal’s opinion, art widens one’s perspectives and understanding of the world.
Stigma around Comics
While conversing about art as an extension of human emotions and perspectives, Noor asked Komal what’s her take on the stigma surrounding comics. Komal shared her personal experiences in this regard as:
“Growing up I heard a lot of negative things about art.Everyone assumed that people choose art when they fail to get good grades. Fact check!It is a fallacy. Art takes a lot of effort.There are so many elements to it. For instance, attention to dimensions & detailing is just one aspect of it. The overall attitude towards art in Pakistan is strange. Artists don’t get much appreciation here. It is an unfortunate thing to see.”
She further adds,
“Comics are seen as childish because they are mostly created for kids. However it’s not entirely the case. Comics like literature has different genres. Each of them is unique and caters to a variety of themes.”
Behind the scenes of Komal’s Characters
Where does your art come from? Are your comics relevant to the culture of Pakistan?Do you always create to promote a social theme?
We all know that creating a piece of art requires hardwork.The process behind it is lengthy and tiresome. Let’s see what Komal has to say about it.
“I don’t write my characters for a cultural agenda.Ofcourse, my upbringing as a Pakistani appears in my stories because it is a part of who I am.I try to create my characters separate from any biases. I’m a storyteller. My focus is storytelling, nothing else. I believe building a story around a social theme weakens it and shifts the narrative. Therefore I tend to create from a place of honesty that in turn creates relevancy and relatability among audience.”
Komal Ashfaq on dealing with Hate
Hate comes from a place of deep hurt. It reflects the inability of people to hold space for contradictory beliefs and opinions. We asked Komal how she deals with hate and her response was inspiring.
“I try to ignore hateful comments .As a human, it hurts to be on the receiving end of them. Sometimes it takes a toll on me. For that reason, I feel glad that I easily cut off people who project negativity. As a Pakistani artist, I understand there are certain expectations attached to my art. People expect me to be a certain way. I don’t aim for that. At the end of the day I stay true to who I am, for I believe in living unapologetically.”
Women and Pakistan
Pakistan’s relationship with women is very complex. Masses exhibit a culture of internalised misogyny here. Komal feels deeply about the difficulties that arise for women as a result of it. Through her art and writings, she brings attention to topics like menstruation, divorce and Aurat March.
A glimpse into future plans
For a creative like Komal, we are sure the future has so much in store. Let’s learn about her future plans. Komal enjoys filmmaking. In future, she hopes to make films on the topics close to her heart.
Advice for Aspiring Comic Artists
“Comics is a relatively new field in Pakistan.Therefore, it is a good time to a comic artist. My advice is, be brave with your ideas.Try to understand the consumer market. Consume a ton of art, even the one you don’t like. Learn from it. It will introduce you to different art styles. Take inspiration from others but don’t copy and remember to step out of your comfort zone often.”
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The youth of Pakistan is full of talent. Komal is a living proof of that. Despite many challenges, Komal did not give up. She persevered! This candid interview with her was a delight. Team Daastan wishes Komal best of luck for her future.
