{"id":6409,"date":"2021-02-02T08:08:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T08:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daastan.com\/blog\/?p=6409"},"modified":"2021-02-02T08:08:26","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T08:08:26","slug":"a-candid-conversation-with-komal-ashfaq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daastan.com\/blog\/a-candid-conversation-with-komal-ashfaq\/","title":{"rendered":"A Candid Conversation with Komal Ashfaq"},"content":{"rendered":"

Komal Ashfaq is a young Pakistani Comics Artist. She has a bachelors degree in Business Administration. <\/span>Haunted but Karachi<\/a><\/em> is\u00a0her famous comic work. Like many artists, she uses different social media platforms to showcase her work. Komalash<\/a><\/i>\u00a0is her art blog on Instagram. <\/i>To live her dream,\u00a0Komal\u00a0is currently pursuing a degree in filmmaking from the US.<\/p>\n

\"komal\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In this candid conversation with Daastan<\/a>, We see Komal opening up about her experiences as an artist. Here\u2019s the world of comics through her lens!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rewind with Komal\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Daastan invited Komal on a live session to converse about comics<\/em>. Our Marketing Associate, Noor ul Huda Tahir<\/em> hosted the session. In her brief introduction, Komal gave a glimpse of her artistic journey<\/em>. 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArt became a huge part of my life from<\/i>\u00a0an early age.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Komal\u2019s First Brush with Death<\/h2>\n

To be a comic artist, one needs to have great drawing<\/em> and storytelling<\/em> skills. The process of discovering one\u2019s inner storyteller is a unique experience. There are many factors that kickstart it. For Komal, her first brush with death<\/em> was it. <\/span>It left<\/span> the painful memory of her grandma\u2019s lifeless body in her mind. She has<\/span> vivid recollections of it even to this day. Therefore,<\/span>\u00a0Komal turns to writing to deal with grief.<\/span><\/p>\n

Art as an Expression of Emotions and Perspectives\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Komal finds peace<\/span> in art. She believes art coveys emotions and perspectives effectively. <\/span>The act of creating and consuming art is not merely a habit for her. In Komal\u2019s opinion,<\/span>\u00a0<\/i>art\u00a0<\/span>widens one\u2019s perspectives and understanding of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"komal<\/a>
komal Ashfaq’s illustration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stigma around Comics\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

While conversing about art as an extension of human emotions and perspectives, Noor asked Komal what\u2019s her take on the stigma surrounding comics. Komal shared her personal experiences in this regard as:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up I heard a lot of negative things<\/i>\u00a0about art.Everyone assumed that people choose art when they fail to\u00a0<\/i>get good grades. Fact check!It is a fallacy. Art takes a lot of effort<\/i>.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\u2019t get much appreciation here. It is an unfortunate thing to see.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

She further adds,<\/p>\n

\u201cComics are seen as childish because they are mostly created for kids. However it\u2019s not entirely the case. Comics like literature has different genres. Each of them is unique and caters to a variety of themes.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Behind the scenes of Komal\u2019s Characters\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Where does your art come from? Are your comics relevant to the culture of Pakistan?Do you always create to promote a social theme?<\/em><\/p>\n

We all know that creating a piece of art requires hardwork<\/span>.The process behind it is lengthy and tiresome. Let\u2019s see what Komal has to say about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t write my characters for a cultural agenda.Ofcourse, my upbringing as a Pakistani appears\u00a0<\/i>in my stories because it<\/i> is a part of who I am.I try to create my characters separate from any biases. I\u2019m a storyteller. My focus is storytelling, nothing else. I believe building a story around a social theme weakens it and <\/i>shifts the narrative. Therefore I tend to create from a place of honesty that in turn creates relevancy and relatability <\/i>among audience.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Komal Ashfaq on dealing with Hate\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hate comes from a place of deep hurt. It reflects the inability of people to hold space for contradictory beliefs and opinions<\/span>. We asked Komal how she deals with hate and her response was inspiring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI 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 <\/i>off people who project negativity. As<\/i> a Pakistani artist, I understand there are certain expectations attached to my art. People expect me to be a certain way. I don\u2019t aim for that. At the end of the day I stay true to who I am, for I believe in living unapologetically.<\/i>\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Women and Pakistan<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pakistan\u2019s relationship with women is very complex. Masses exhibit a culture of internalised misogyny <\/span>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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A glimpse into future plans\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

For a creative like Komal, we are sure the future has so much in store<\/span>. Let\u2019s learn about her future plans<\/span>. Komal enjoys<\/span> filmmaking. In future, she hopes to make films on the topics close to her heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advice for Aspiring Comic Artists<\/h2>\n

\u201cComics 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\u2019t like. Learn from it. It will introduce you to different art styles. Take inspiration from others but don\u2019t copy and remember to step out of your comfort zone often.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Daastan (@mydaastan)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n