Leela Corman
(New York, 1972) is an American graphic novelist and cartoonist. Her book Meideles (original title: Unterzakhn, which means "underwear") was also published in Dutch. This 2012 book in particular brought her international attention. In Meideles she portrays the twin sisters Esther and Fanya in a New York Jewish immigrant neighbourhood at the start of the 20th century, whose mother runs a corset shop. The sisters grow apart when Esther becomes a prostitute. Corman sketches a wonderful portrait of the Lower East Side, and of the hypocrisy and conservatism of New York's immigrant community at that time. She studied painting and illustration, works for The New York Times and other publications, and is a belly dancer.
(GR WU 15)Share this page
Archive available for: Leela Corman
-
Opening Night: Free the Word!
With: David Van Reybrouck, Dinar Rahayu, Farah Karimi, John Ralston Saul, Joris Wijsmuller, Karl Ove Knausgård, Leela Corman, Mano Bouzamour, Manon Uphoff, Mohammed Benzakour, Nelleke Noordervliet, Pauni Trio, Petra Stienen, Razan al-Maghrabi, Ton van de Langkruis
A special opening night featuring a keynote speech by Karl Ove Knausgård, the Oxfam Novib PEN Awards for Freedom of Expression, a debate moderated by Petra Stienen, and concluding words by David Van Reybrouck.
Freedom of speech and the power of the word are central issues on the festival's opening night. The president of PEN International, John Ralston Saul, will introduce the Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård, who delivers the keynote Free Word Speech. Farah Karimi, director of Oxfam Novib will announce the laureates of the prestigious Oxfam Novib PEN Awards for Freedom of Expression. The awards honour writers who seek out and propagate the truth, sometimes at the risk of their own lives. Razan al-Maghrabi was one of the laureates, who could be present at the festival to receive the award. After an interview with Manon Uphoff (president of PEN Nederland), there will be adebate, moderated by Petra Stienen, on religious extremism and the value of provocation. Panellists include writers Mohammed Benzakour, Mano Bouzamour, cartoonist Leela Corman and Dinar Rahayu (Indonesia). David Van Reybrouck rounds out the evening with one his poems. After the programme, Writers Unlimited chair Nelleke Noordervliet and Alderman for culture of The Hague Joris Wijsmuller adress founder and festivaldirector Ton van de Langkruis on the occasion of the 20th edition of the festival. This event was put together with the collaboration of PEN International, PEN Nederland and Oxfam Novib.
-
Dancing into Friday Night
Dancing into the night with DJ Safri, who plays just about any kind of music that gets danced to around the worldmixed or unmixedsuch as Latin, Afrobeat, Oriental, Balkan Beats, Bollywood, Tropical, Cumbia, Asian Underground, Chaâbi, Kwaito, and Baile Funk.
-
Sex, Comics, and Weltschmerz
Graphic novelists Leela Corman of New York and the Walloon Dominique Goblet engage in conversation with Peter Breedveld about the harsh realities and personal tragedies behind their art, and about the sensual merging of text and drawings. In English.
-
Tear Down the Wall
"If a man isn't willing to stand behind his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good," said poet Ezra Pound. Do art and literature create a safe environment for breaking taboos? Should artists and writers explore their personal boundaries, as well as those of politics and society? Arjan Visser ponders these and other questions with authors Muhammad Aladdin and Niña Weijers and graphic novelist Leela Corman, all three of whom touch on delicate issues in their work. In English.