The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce Traces of the Great War, a new and ambitious anthology publication exploring the traces and impact of the First World War on our lives today.
Featuring over 20 internationally acclaimed comic artists and writers, the project has been jointly commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War centenary, and La Mission du Centenaire.
Traces of the Great War will be published in October 2018 and forms part of the 14-18 Now national programme of over 40 arts and cultural events taking place throughout 2018.
This multi-partnership France/ UK project is led by the directors of On a Marche sur la Bulle and LICAF, Pascal Meriaux and Julie Tait and co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Mission du Centenaire.
Featuring strips from francophone, British and other artists from across the globe, Traces of the Great War will include a dedicated website, education programme and exhibitions.
Comic creators involved include award-winning artist and writer Dave McKean, who also co-created the critically-acclaimed 14-18 NOW comics work Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash in 2016.
Contributors to Traces of the Great War include: Charlie Adlard, Simon Armitage, Edmond Baudoin, Juan Diaz Canales, Regis Hautiere, Joe Kelly, Kris, Thomas Von Kummant, Denis Lapiere, Victoria Lomasko, Mael, Dave McKean, Mikiko, Ken Niimura, Sean Phillips, Ian Rankin, Riff Reb’s, Robbie Morrison, Orijit Sen, Bryan Talbot and Mary Talbot.
Not only is this a global comics project but its has a local connection with Kendal, home to the Festival, too. A key partner, Albert in France (host of the annual Albert book festival), is twinned with Ulverston in South Cumbria and both locations will be involved in the launch of the project.
“Comics, graphic novels, bandes desinees are an incredibly powerful art form, capable of bringing to life fragments of the past and to give form and presence to what cannot easily be said,” says LICAF director Julie Tait of the joint project. “This artform has the power to transmit emotion, to involve our feelings and intellect and to make readers think and reflect on the issues they deal with.”
Traces of the Great War is commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, La Mission du centenaire de la Premiere Guerre mondiale, On a Marche Sur Le Bulle and Lakes International Comic Arts Festival. It is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and from the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
