From January 14th to February 15th, come by the main floor of Koerner Library to explore the exhibition “Mediating Archives: Exploring History Through Comics,” a partnership between Koerner Library, Rare Books and Special Collections, and the Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies (CENES).
This exhibition of student work from Dr. Biz Nijdam’s CENS 308: Comics and Graphic Novels in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe showcases the creative and critical engagement of students who explored the intersection of history, memory, and graphic storytelling. As part of their final project, students created original comics inspired by archival materials from UBC’s Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC).
The assignment invited students to delve into the RBSC’s rich collection of documents, focusing on the history of local activism in British Columbia. Through collaborative research and creative development, students transformed these materials into visually compelling narratives, highlighting the ways in which historical documents can inform and inspire storytelling.
The resulting works demonstrate how comics can serve as both an art form and a medium for historical reflection. From depictions of migration and identity to examinations of activism and resilience, these projects bring history to life through graphic narrative.
We hope this exhibition of archival reproductions and the resulting comics offers insight into the diverse and thoughtful ways in which our students critically engaged with archival materials, connecting the past with the present through the power of comics.