Aug 18 2026 to Aug 18 2026 6 p.m.

Where

Museum of Art & Photography (MAP)

Kasturba Road, Bengaluru 560001

Event Description

Comics and graphic novels have long occupied space in storytelling, finding ways to engage readers with complex realities through their visual narratives. This conversation between Susmita Mohanty and Daniele Pasin looks at the current state of graphic novel practice and publishing across India, France, Italy and Spain, and explores residency models like MAD-IFI asecosystems that support creators. Drawing from Susmita’s interdisciplinary practice, the discussion also considers how architecture, design, and exploration can shape visual narratives.

At its heart, the conversation asks what makes the graphic novel such a powerful medium for addressing difficult subjects, particularly conflict, memory and identity, while holding complexity, ambiguity and multiple perspectives.

Susmita Mohanty
Speaker

Susmita Mohanty is a spaceship designer, entrepreneur and space diplomat. Her professional journey began with NASA and Boeing before she turned entrepreneur – co-founding companies across three continents: MOONFRONT in San Francisco, LIQUIFER in Vienna, and EARTH2ORBIT in Bangalore. More recently, she has turned her attention to addressing global concerns of safety, security, and sustainability in space through dialogue and diplomacy through Spaceport SARABHAI, a forward-thinking space policy think-tank she founded.

Susmita is also deeply invested in fostering cross-disciplinary innovation. Together with her husband, Siddharth Das, she co-founded MAD Salon+Lab, a cultural platform that bridges art, science, and the humanities through collaborative projects. Full bio @ https://www.themoonwalker.in/

Daniel Pasin
Speaker

Daniele Pasin (Danicollaterale) is an architect, author, and illustrator.
He studied architecture in Venice and Lisbon, and event design in Montreal.
In 2021, he earned a Master’s degree in comic book script writing from the International School of Comics in Padua.
As an architect and 3D artist, he spent several years working at international architectural firms such as Ateliers Jean Nouvel (Paris) and Snøhetta (Oslo).
In 2019, he published his first illustrated book, *Entre les lignes*, with Éditions Sarbacane.
Since then, he has also worked on animated videos, comics, and illustration (his work has been published by outlets including the *Los Angeles Times*, *Corriere della Sera*, *L’Express*, and *La Revue Dessinée*).
He has published three graphic novels with Éditions Delcourt: *Je suis charrette* (2024), *Flatland* (2025), and *Le plus beau métier du monde* (2026).