Before manga, India had murals | ‘A Moving Line’ at MAP Bengaluru
The Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru is hosting an exhibition titled 'A Moving Line' that explores 1,500 years of Indian visual storytelling. Curated by Amruta Patil, the display features over 250 works ranging from ancient temple friezes to modern graphic novels and digital cartoons.
Why it matters
It challenges the perception that comics are not serious literature and highlights the deep historical roots of visual narrative traditions in India.
As a child, long before I was enamoured by the likes of Nancy Drew , The Hardy Boys and Sweet Valley High , I existed on a steady diet of Archie comics. My ‘Double Digests’ binge was only interrupted when the latest issue of Target magazine arrived at home. I would always seek out the Gardhab Das and Detective Moochwala comics first, before turning my attention to the issue’s many other delights.
Back then, I had little understanding of comics beyond the knowledge that the small squares provided a sharp and fleeting pleasure. As I grew up, the idea that comics were not serious reading was drilled into my head and I was forced to move on to other literary pastures. What an absolute shame.
Amruta Patil, curator, painter and graphic novelist | Photo Credit: Courtesy of MAP Bengaluru
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