Didar Kul-Muhammad, from Almaty
Abaicartoons project’s author
I studied literature at university and wrote a thesis on graphic novels. Abai was one of my favorite writers, and I wanted to portray him in comics.
I made illustrations to Abai's sayings and uploaded them on the net. My main goal was to promote Kazakh literature among young people. Abai’s words of wisdom are always relevant. The only thing you need to change according to time lasting is the form of their submission. So, I made my own version of really motivational and inspiring illustrations.
I make illustrations, draw and translate them on my own. My close people help and advise me. The most difficult is to translate the text correctly to convey the full depth of Abai's words.
Uploading illustrations in Instagram for the first time, I had 4,000 people signed up for me at once. After that I started receiving messages saying that it would be great to make the same postcards. So, that was how I launched their production.
Abaicartoons postcards comprise Abai’s most popular sayings and are accompanied by the poet’s pictures in the cartoon style. English postcards are suitable for all occasions, so they can be given as a souvenir to foreigners. The most popular quote is: "You are a little brick in the wall of the world. Find your place in it," which is sold most quickly because it reminds that each person has his/her own destiny.
Some of my postcards were purchased by Drew from New Zealand when he was in Almaty. Drew travels the world and collects local residents’ signatures on Abaicartoons postcards, his route runs through 25 countries. Sometimes Drew sends me a photo with Abai posing against the backdrop of different sights. My subscribers say that the traveling Abai rubric reminds them of the traveling gnome from "Amelie".
I help popularize Abai Kunanbayev’s works by comparing his quotes with modern trends.
For example, Abai’s 38th word is the following: "Some people’s only talent is flaunting their looks. What goods come from arousing envy and spurring imitation with such behavior? "
These words are more relevant than ever before. People are boasting and showing themselves off online, social networks feed vanity with the number of subscribers and likes. Therefore I drew Abai with a smartphone receiving notifications from Instagram.
Abaicartoons can be purchased in 16 cities of Kazakhstan. Addresses of all stores can be found on the Facebook and Instagram.
