The two day event hosted David Lloyd, co-creator of ‘V for Vendetta’ and a host of other comic book artists along with an incredible music lineup that kept the city hooked.
Bangalore, India, 3 February 2015: PUMA marked the first anniversary of the PUMA Social Club in Indiranagar, Bangalore with ‘Keep It Real Nights – The Legend of the Drawing Board’ on 31st January and 1st February. The celebrations spanning over two days featured the British comic legend David Lloyd and a host of other speakers from the comic book community. 15 young artists from the city also showcased their work. Both the evenings had stellar after parties with music artists like Shiva Sound System, Anish Sood, Sanddunes and more.
Day 1 had several interesting conversations with artists from the comic book industry. The highlight of the day was the session with the internationally acclaimed artist David Lloyd, the co-creator of ‘V for Vendetta’. During his talk, David touched upon the subject of internet freedom, freedom of speech and also the birth of graphic novels. He then moved on to his current project, ‘ Aces Weekly ‘ – www.acesweekly.co.uk – which features work from some of world’s finest artists, including David himself.
Apart from David, there were also conversations with:
— Pratheek & Tina Thomas, the owners of Studio Kokaachi, who spoke about the power of the silence in a graphic novel.
– Appupuen, Bangalore-based comic artist best known for the ‘Halahala’ graphic novel series, who regaled the audience with anecdotes from his 15-year journey in the world of comics and graphic novels.
– Alok Sharma, writer, filmmaker and an ardent comic book fan who showcased the evolution of the comic book industry in India from the 1940s till date.
The first day wrapped up with pulsating music acts by BLENT, Twokid Wickid, Fuzzy Logic and Anish Sood at the after party which saw an enthralled audience letting their hair down and grooving to electrifying music.
Day Two saw a crowd of comic book enthusiasts flocking to the PUMA Social Club for a showcase of art by 15 city-based artists. Also on display were a collection of 30 vintage and very rare comics by comic collector and independent history researcher Arun Prasad. The attendees also had a fantastic opportunity to get their comic books signed by David Lloyd himself.
Come sundown, the after party saw eclectic music acts by artists YourChin, Sanddunes and Shiva Sound System.
The décor at the event was in the theme of comic books. The crowd could doodle on the tablemats and there were name tags where people could write their comic character alter egos. The F&B menus too had quirky comic book names.
The key speaker for the evening David Lloyd said, “It’s fantastic to see a brand like PUMA take a keen interest in comic art. I am amazed at not only the talent but also the interest that the city has shown in appreciating the ‘Legend of the Drawing Board’. The vibe at the PUMA Social Club has been great and it’s been an honour to be a part of this event.”
Talking about the event, PUMA India, MD, Mr. Abhishek Ganguly said, “As a brand PUMA is known for creative expression in its products. The event ‘Legend of the Drawing Board’ has given us a platform to connect with consumers in the comic book and graphic novel community. The response to the event has been overwhelming and it’s been a pleasure hosting the creative legend David Lloyd here at the PUMA Social Club.”
PUMA has successfully hosted various chapters of Keep It Real Nights. Editions in the past like ‘Collectors and Curators’, ‘Vintage Ad screening’, ‘evolution of EDM music festival’ at the PUMA Social Club have got the buzz going in the Bangalore community.
The PUMA Social Club, strategically located above its flagship Sustainable Store on 100 Ft Road is characterized by the distinctive concept of ‘upcycling’. In a short span of one year the club has firmly established itself as the spot for cool-kids and hipsters alike, with something different on offer for everyone who visits.