Modak recalls how his journey with co-mix began, “It started with one question that I kept bothering my teachers with: Do you write the alphabet, or draw it?” His career began as a content writer; he later switched to illustrating for city newspapers, including mid-day, and had his own comic strip in LokSatta. He found himself shuttling between words and images, till he decided to find a middle path. “The word ‘comics’ is usually interpreted as funny, and something meant for children, while manga is considered to be for adults.

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And then there are terms like graphic novels, which like manga or comic books, follow in a similar format, but are considered as more serious forms of literature. The term ‘comix’ is believed to have been used first been popularised by American cartoonist Robert Crumb, through his book Zap Comix. ‘X’ stood for mature audience usage. Slowly, it started to be picked up by comic enthusiasts, and they began replacing the ‘cs’ in the term with x, as a rebellion against the notion [of comics being considered funny, children-centric books],” he explains.

These pieces of co-mix made by Modak’s students are a part of a published anthology called Comics Epidemic

But for Modak, the term comix held much more meaning. “Not everyone communicates in the same way. Some people understand visual formats better, while others lean towards words. India, for instance, used to communicate primarily through scriptures. If comix are an effective way of communication, which in my opinion, they are, some of world’s oldest forms of communicating stories, like the Chinese pyramids, sculptures, scriptures and the carvings inside ancient caves, can also be considered comix,” he elaborates, explaining how he wanted to explore a mix of the two artforms, where none is dependent on the other, and yet holds equal importance. “Hence, co-mix,” he remarks.

The 45-year-old has been promoting this form of art across India for a decade. He has taught across schools and educational institutes, and has even tied up with NGOs to teach the concept. His project with NGO Smile Foundation and Dharavi’s citizens birthed two anthologies from the students, Saturday Comix and Comics Epidemic, which are also available for sale on e-stores.

The closest we will ever be is a concrete poem that is part of the co-mix artist’s ongoing exhibition Encrypted at the Colaba art gallery

Comics Epidemic is a collection of 43 tales made by Dharaviites. It covers topics and issues like gender-based violence, mental health, relationships and health and nutrition that the residents encounter daily. His own works of art include concrete poetry that he believes are the ideal example of a balanced blend of word and image. Alongside this workshop, his concrete poems are currently on display at the gallery till October 28. The workshop will include the history and grammar of co-mix, which means the breaking down of technical terms in the graphic world, and co-mix jam, which will be a collective series of co-mix by the participants. 

Chaitanya Modak

Communicate love

Modak’s concrete poem, The joy of art (below), that is currently on display is a take on storytelling through the modern means of communication. “It follows a conversation between two people who are sexting using only acronyms. The entire conversation is through letters of the alphabet, and yet, it makes complete sense to them. That is the meaning of communicating stories through whatever medium makes sense to you. This book also throws light on how communication is going back from full words to just sounds,” he says.

Collaborated with NGO SNEHA and Dharavi Biennale to introduce Dharavi residents to storytelling through co-mix

On: October 8, 12 pm to 4.30 pm
At: Apre Art House, 3rd Pasta Lane, Colaba. 
Log on to: @aprearthousemumbai (for registering); won-tolla.com
To Register: Rs 2,000 (all materials included)