Cross-posted from the abstract comics blog. This project sits on SokolinDesign and was a first exploration of randomization and the sequential art form.

There are different ways to connect visual content to the “comic” medium: visual content, form, narrative. I am still trying to figure out how many recognizable ties we can remove and still hold on to a legitimate story, or how foreign we can make our visual imagery and still connect with the reader, or how differently we can structure the page and still have continuous flow.

To that end, randomization provides a good proxy test for releasing control of specific elements. In the project below, I take one cohesive piece and pull it apart into panels, and then randomize their location. Additionally, there is a bit of interactivity with the work.

This the digital version: an early test of concept that eventually brought me to the piece in the anthology.

This is the amazing render of the anthology!

Six pages of Alexey’s art are featured in Abstract Comics: The Anthology, edited by Andre Molotiu. Andre and Alexey met at the 2008 MoCCA festival, and since then developed and evolved a piece shown at the event into an exploration of visual exposition. The anthology is published by Fantagraphics, and will be available at the end of June on Amazon, and in stores (like the Strand). It will even feature a comic by R. Crumb!

This is beyond doubt a ground-breaking and unique publication, and you are highly encouraged to check it out once available. Alexey’s work is also part of the anthology’s cover design (background for “Abstract”), and an exhibition may be in the cards.  

Additionally, a dedicated blog has been set up to discuss the topic of abstraction within graphic narratives. The participants on the blog are authors featured in the anthology, promising a beautiful, interesting and collaborative environment to delve beyond the frontier. Already there are quite a few outstanding contributions.