SATURDAY 28 | Back in the 1990s, the international comic-book community began holding an annual 24-Hour Comic Day: the challenge is to produce a 24-page comic in 24 hours. No preparation (except materials, music and food), from initial concept to full art, with even proofreading completed within one day. You can nap, but the clock keeps ticking. Since 2008, the slowly developing Phnom Penh comics community has been participating in this global sharing, and along the way created what is called the Cambodian variation: the event is open for 24 hours, but participants produce one page in one hour; you can drop in, be brilliant and head off again. “The operative word here is ‘fun’,” explains organiser John Weeks, from the Siew Phew Yeung/Our Books group. “Each day has had a great informal atmosphere that brought the community together: amateurs, professionals, local and international artists.” Java Café and Gallery will host an exhibition on the evening of September 27 to showcase examples of work from previous years then the scribbling and scrawling fun begins on September 28 at 8am. The format is simple and designed to maximise participation. Local artists, including Sao Sreymao and Moeu Diyadaravuth, will be on hand as guides to welcome, assist and encourage. “It is a great chance to get together and share,” says Sreymao, who has been involved in the event for years. She knows it’s hard for people to put aside the time, especially when it’s for love not money, but emphasises that this actually is a way to meet new friends and to make a connection with people with the same interests. “Sometimes it’s funny that you know someone, see them every day and then find out oh, you also make comics!”
WHO: Established and budding comic book writers and the comic-book curious
WHAT: 24-Hour Comics Day
WHERE: Java Café and Gallery, #56 Sihanouk Blvd.
WHEN: From 8am September 28 (NOT Oct 28 as we mistakenly printed last week – apologies!)
WHY: Experience the Cambodian variation on comic books