Unleash creativity when painting meets history

From "children's stories" to tools that speak memories

A long-standing tradition has led many people to hold the prejudice that comics are simply entertainment products for children. However, graphic novels have proven their power by going beyond the “fun, easy-to-read” framework to become an independent art form, capable of conveying important issues such as history, immigration, war, collective memory or forgotten identities...

Clément Baloup, a French-Vietnamese artist, not only shares his personal creative journey but also provides a vivid example of how comics can touch on thorny, complex issues such as immigrant status, war memories or generation gap. With the series Memories of Overseas Vietnamese , he seeks the answer to the question of his twenties: “Why am I a mixed-race person?” And then, the fragments of memories gradually appear through the pages of the comic, both private and highly representative of a community forgotten in history.

The intersection of literature and painting in the graphic novel has helped Clément not only tell a story, but also recreate the historical space of France - Vietnam, a social context full of uncertainty, and the identities of immigrants who are both small and resilient. As he shared, images are the way he "speaks" when words are not enough; comics are the means to keep fragile memories from being washed away by time.

Researcher Le Nguyen Long shared that graphic novels are not simply “comics with depth”, but a subtle combination of words and pictures, where both resonate to create a stronger transmission effect. Thanks to this visual narrative form, heavy topics such as immigration, racism or war can become more accessible and relatable, especially to young readers.

Untapped potential in Vietnam

The graphic novel market in France has developed dramatically since the early 2000s, and has been recognized by academics as a new form of storytelling art, alongside novels, films and audiobooks.

In Vietnam, this genre is still in its infancy, but through the discussion, it can be seen that graphic novels have the potential to create a new breeze in non-fiction writing. Works such as Memories of Overseas Vietnamese are proof that the ability to tell stories through images not only does not “dilute” the message, but also increases the spread and empathy of the reader.

With a rich culture and history, materials from war, migration, urbanization to social change... are waiting to be recreated in new forms. Graphic novels are an invitation for artists, writers, researchers and young people to embark on an inspiring creative journey, where national stories can be told with both images and heart.

When culture and history "marry" with painting, graphic novels are no longer something to be overlooked in the publishing world. They become an open creative space, a "graphic novel" capable of evoking memories, depicting fate and touching the depths of humanity.

MAI AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khoi-nguon-sang-tao-khi-hoi-hoa-ket-duyen-cung-lich-su-post794759.html