Comixiade is an international network of artists with a focus on graphic narratives and comics. The project is an initiative of the Dutch cultural organization Platform Spartak and developed further in many different European countries, connecting scenes of designers, animators, writers, poets, book-binders, political activists, storytellers, dissidents and actors.

The central figure is a Tintin-like journalist called Osvald. He is a quirky and somewhat sleazy asthmatic. Like Europe itself, he has dabbled in many things – from music to journalism. But he remains an inquisitive dreamer. This helps him to cope whenever he wakes up in a new, usually anonymous, location. Whether it’s in an airport, bus-stop, alley, public square or shopping mall, the always slightly dazed Osvald is driven to constantly re-invent his identity and memories through the people and stories he encounters.

For over a year, Comixiade has been organizing international gatherings of young artists. During these so-called ‘comic jams’, they were given one week to turn a number of comic scenario’s into comic strips, working together using their individual styles, learning and getting to know each other in the process. The stories reflect on current events but with a special approach: sometimes melancholic, mostly abstract and often multi-layered and confusing. Take for example the tales about Serbian show-monkey Sami, vegetable-vendor Mechmed or the melancholic Russian lady Tatiana to see what Comixiade is all about.

Meanwhile, at home, many more comic artists create their own stories about Osvald and his pet pig, Carmen. These stories are being published on www.comixiade.org but will also be published in a book, which will be Comixiade’s final project in 2012. However, the production of this book still needs extra funding, so Comixiade started an IndieGogo crowdfunding campaign. Read all about it here and and donate here, and help Comixiade fullfill it’s deepest wish: a gorgeous labyrinthical book!