Silent Comics. How to say a lot without words

A distinctive feature of comics is generally considered to be the combination of words and images, which is said not to exist in this form in any other medium. But how do works that manage entirely without text fit into this? As purely visual stories, they dispense with words and allow the drawing alone to become the vehicle of the narrative.

The exhibition brings together seven outstanding ‘Silent Comics’ that play with drawing in different ways and skilfully replace the word. In his masterpiece “Arzach”, for instance, Moebius has a silent warrior flying through breathtaking landscapes. This classic of science fiction literature opens up new worlds to its readers and offers a multitude of possible interpretations. Aude Picault explores interpersonal relationships: the erotic encounters between a noblewoman and her servant are wordless, but all the more intense for it. For the author duo Philippe Petit-Roulet and François Avril, however, the absence of words between a man and a woman usually leads to misunderstandings. Wilfrid Lupano and Grégory Panaccione also focus in “Ein Ozean der Liebe” on a couple whose wonderful story is not without humour. Larry Hama focuses on action: with his “Silent Interlude” centred on the main character G.I. Joe, he pulled off a coup in 1983. Never before had the American hero been sent on a mission completely devoid of dialogue. Hendrik Dorgathen also published a landmark work with “Space Dog”: the story of a red dog launched into space is regarded as one of the first attempts to bridge comics and art in the German-speaking community. Finally, Anna Sommer’s paper cut-outs lend a poetic touch: she needs no words to tell the story of a one-eyed woman striving for fulfilment.

Visitors to the exhibition are invited to explore, through these very different comics, how drawing alone can carry a story and convey nuanced messages.

Lilian Pithan