CiTy Stories 2 ediToriaL 2007
For the second time I have the pleasure to meet the readers of the City
Stories series! This time the comic workshops gathered artists from Łódź
and London. And you will see the result of this co-operation on the following
pages of the second volume of the anthology of urban stories about Łódź.
This year during our meeting we focused mostly on Księży Młyn, currently
the most precious historical part of Łódź, which will soon disappear buried
under the building site converting our old town into secluded guarded
real estate for the celebrities. Although the investors claim that they
will open part of the historical area for public, we should be aware that
money turns this world go round and not reason, so we should not take those
promises as granted. Today on a September morning 2007 we may say it openly
that our city has lost something, which cannot be restored by all possible
means.
These are our monuments, the oldest historical part of
the city telling our city history through bricks and steel. The place,
which along Piotrkowska street might become the symbol Łódź. And now it
is becoming a real estate area built in red brick. Numerous meetings and
discussions about Księży Młyn took place, where we tried to explain the
necessity of preserving our cultural heritage proving our urban roots and
identity, but it was all in vain. The trend for lofts and apartments in
old factories came to us from abroad together with investors’ money and
our settlement could not defend itself against it. The arguments that such
cities as Cracow, Gdańsk and Warsaw could afford selling the XIXth century
factories to private investors because they are not their cultural heritage
were ignored. We do not have Wawel castle and Royal Castle in Łódź and
now it is clear that we have sold our old town. It is such a shame! The
hope for better treatment of ourselves is in those who will come because
those who live here have not understood the issue of Księży
Młyn. As simple as that! How did it happen, who let it happen and what
has really happened – this could be the subject of another comic, which
we certainly make one day. All that makes me sad.
But
let us not brood in sadness but concentrate on impressions made by international
teams. According to City Stories idea stories presented here are the result
of work of Polish-British teams. Young artists picked up the subjects in
various manner. Some in a light mood other more serious, as it happens
in comics. You find here works of debutants as well as experienced artists,
which in my opinion resulted in interesting diversity. The final praise
as always belongs to the reader. The City Stories book is very difficult
to make. Since the first stage, the meeting in Łódź, through authors’ co-operation
via internet where they have to overcome language barriers as well as decide
on the final look of their stories, translation and bilingual print it
takes over three months. Personally I thing that it is worth all the struggle
because thank to this project we are the avant-garde of artistic events
in Łódź. After the premiere of the first City Stories book other similar
projects flourished in our city: international photographic and film workshops.
This makes me very happy. Really! City Stories project would not be possible
without work and commitment of many people. I thank from my heart everyone
who used their hands and intellect to prepare this book! Most of you –
who participated in this project – was captured in family gallery of City
Stories. I hope you will accept such acknowledgments and preserve them
in your memory.
And that another thing, which makes me happy! Let it last!
Adam Radoń
Stories published in this album:
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THE LEGEND OF ŁÓDŹ THE LEGEND OF ŁÓDŹ© Script and Artwork: Jenika Ioffreda, Tomasz Tomaszewski |
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PRIEST ’SMILL PRIEST’S MILL© Script: Robert Olesiński, Paweł Marszałek, Artwork: Warren Hutchison |
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THE COLLECTOR THE COLLECTOR© Script and Artwork: Michał Będkowski, Tom Humberstone |
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FOUR SEASONS
ONE SKY |
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JELLY A’LA ŁÓDŹ JELLY A’LA ŁÓDŹ© Script and Artwork: Tomasz Tomaszewski |
JENIKA
IOFFREDA
( Script and Artwork in project )
Artist, comic designer and independent publisher. Italian living and working
in Great Britain. She participated in numerous comic exhibitions and festivals
both in Italy and Great Britain such as Expocartoon of Rome, London MCM
Expo, Comic Expo, Birmingham International Comics Show, UK Web and Mini
Comics Thing.
Co- author of comic anthologies “Dead by Dawn”, “Modern Monstrosity Presents”
and “Manfa Quake”.
Currently independent publisher of her own projects: graphic novel “Checkmate:
Infinite Technology”, comic “Cynderella” and latest series “Vampire Free
Style”.
TOMASZ
TOMASZEWSKI
( Script and Artwork in project )
Born in 1968. Graduated in Fine Arts Academy in Łódź. Co-founder of “Contur”
group and one of the organisers of first comic convents in Lodz. He works
professionally as graphic and comic designer and illustrator. He used to
work for such magazines as: “Fantastyka”, “Czas Komiksu”, “Świat Komiksu”
,“Fenix“, Polish edition of “Playboy” and many others. He has also illustrated
books “Literatura Powszechna” by Jan Tomkowski (Czytelnik 1993) and comics:
“Popman. Pierwsze kroki” (1999), “Burger story” (2000), “Papierowe wizje”
(2001), “Super Jasio” script Piotr Kabulak “K-mix czyli najważniejsze zdania
świata” script Maciej Wojtyszko . In the years 2000-2004 publisher and
editor in chief of comic magazine “Arena Komiks”.
In 2000 his graphic novel “Popman. Pierwsze kroki” represented Poland in
international comic anthology
published in France by L’Assocacion.
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Adam Radoń Jenika and Tomek are temperamentally well matched couple. Two quiet characters: young but devoted author of “cat” comics and a bit older and more experienced artist and publisher. I think they treated the theme of legends of Łódź in light cheerful manner and their story is simply pleasant. I also like the fact that they developed new way of co-operation without strict division of roles: script writer and artist. They baked it together and all I can say is: Bon Apetite! |
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"PRIEST'S
MILL"
WARREN HUTCHISON
( Artwork in project )
Born in 1982 in South African Republic. He has been living in London for
four years. Artist working for
advertising agencies. He started making comics as a hobby now he wants to
do it professionally.
ROBERT OLESIŃSKI
( Script in project )
Born in 27 May 1971 in Łódź. He has technical education background. Author of
comic scripts and RPGs. The founder of “Talizman” magazine where he published
comics by Przemysław Truściński and Krzysztof Ostrowski among others. Together
with Przemysław Truściński he published comic “Misja rozpaczy” by Tomasz and
Jerzy Ozga. Co-founder of the group Fabryka Komiksów Estremadura with such members
as Adrian Madej, Paweł Marszałek, Wojciech Prokop and Michał Janusik. In 2006
as co-script writer (the other script writer was Paweł Marszałek) he won Grand
Prix in International Comic Festival for “Demokracja” comic (artist Adrian Madej).
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Adam Radoń Robert and Paweł wrote a scary script. Quite rightly because current situation of Księży Młyn is scary indeed. Vampire story was illustrated by Warren an experienced illustrator who made his debut here in comic. It seems that if Romania wants to sell Dracula Castle in Transylvania we could buy this legend and bring it to Łódź to Księży Młyn. What do you think? |
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"THE COLLECTOR"
TOM HUMBERSTONE( Script and Artwork in project )
Born in 1981 in London where he lives ever since. Independent comic publisher for three years he has been running his own label Vented Spleen. He has published three comics which were appraised by both criticts and readers. One of his comics was nominated for Eagle Award in Best Black And White British Comic.
www.ventedspleen.com
MICHAŁ BĘDKOWSKI
( Script and Artwork in project )
Born in 1981 in Warsaw. Currently four year student of Fine Arts Academy in Łódź. He has been involved in comic for many years. His stories were published in comic magazines (AQQ, KKK, Arena Komiks) and he participated in some anthologies (“Epizody Powstania Warszawskiego”, “Wszystko, co chcielibyście wiedzieć o piłce”). He took part in numerous exhibitions inluding individual exhibition in Culture Centre in Łódź among others. Since last three years he is working as exhibitions comissioner in comic festival in Łódź.
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Adam Radoń „The Collector” was created between Cyprus and London. Tom and Michał created a collection, which went out of the control of its owner. It is a beautiful metaphore of present situation of Księży Młyn in Łódź. Is is amazing how quickly British artists understood absurd situation of our old town and they could not believe how could we deprived ourselved of such an important place for our history. |
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"CZTERY PORY ROKU JEDNO NIEBO"
HUMAYUN MIRZA( Script and Backgrounds in project )
Animator, artist, designer. Graduated in Fine Arts at University of Wolverhampton in 1994. Since then he
is working for design companies and film studios in London, he used to designed music CDs covers and computer games. Later he started to work as an animator. He worked for such companies as Asylum Entertainment Ltd (where he made designes for Playstation2 and individual project “Kid Ninja”), The Moving Picture Company, where he did compositing for big budget productions such as “Poseidon”, “X-Men 3”, “Da Vinci Code” and “Harry Potter”. Currently he is working for Minivegas Studio as 2D animator.
MAREK SKOTARSKI
( Characters and Typography in project )
Born in 1967. Artist and photographer graduated from Fine Arts Academy in Łódź. Involved in International Comic Festival from the very beggining, co-founder of Artists Association “Contur”. He used to work for music labels and magazines such as “Playboy” and “Komiks Forum”. Author of “Komiksus” statue, the main prize in International Comic Festival. Currently he works as graphic designer and film editor.
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Adam Radoń Humayun and Marek were impressed by the old power plant on Księży Młyn – hardly anyone is not impressed there. Industrial background of machinery, decay and neglect ispired them to create a story taking place in secret underground. This comics was created in a very unusual way: Humayun created backgorund and sets where Marek placed his characters. It is certainly a new technique of creating comics and we present it for the first time in City Stories. |
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TOMASZ TOMASZEWSKI
( Script and Artwork in project )
Born in 1968. Graduated in Fine Arts Academy in Łódź. Co-founder of “Contur”
group and one of the organisers of first comic convents in Lodz. He works professionally
as graphic and comic designer and illustrator. He used to work for such magazines
as: “Fantastyka”, “Czas Komiksu”, “Świat Komiksu” ,“Fenix“, Polish edition of
“Playboy” and many others. He has also illustrated books “Literatura Powszechna”
by Jan Tomkowski (Czytelnik 1993) and comics: “Popman. Pierwsze kroki” (1999),
“Burger story” (2000), “Papierowe wizje” (2001), “Super Jasio” script Piotr Kabulak
“K-mix czyli najważniejsze zdania świata” script Maciej Wojtyszko . In the years
2000-2004 publisher and editor in chief of comic magazine “Arena Komiks”.
In 2000 his graphic novel “Popman. Pierwsze kroki” represented Poland in international
comic anthology published in France by L’Assocacion.
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Adam Radoń Jelly a’la Łódź is our home made recipy. This witty and incredibly apt story was created solely by Tomek Tomaszewski and although it was not made in co-operation with British artist I decided to include it in this volume. It is worth mentioning that the main character is a British tourist... |
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