Join The Mollusc Dimension, author of “The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse” and queer neurodivergent poet Rona Luo who will interview him. This debut comic book is an autobiographical collection of short stories about mental health, grief and growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s - from the unique yet highly relatable viewpoint of a British-born Chinese trans, queer, neurodivergent person. We’ll be talking about process (and challenges!) of creating the book, its themes, creativity for wellbeing and more.
Come get comfy, be the first to collect your limited 1st edition copy of this groundbreaking work, have it signed and celebrate this INCREDIBLE moment with us!
Deep in the pandemic, an awkward comic artist finds a shape-shifting way to unlock crucial memories from his troubled past. Visited at dawn by tiny yet potent transformative tales, he time-hops - creatively battling despair and spooky foes, attempting to unearth a long-lost feeling of wonder.
You're invited to dip or dive into this quirky debut autobiographical collection of 37 self-contained yet interwoven short comic stories. Based on the unique (yet relatable) lived experiences of The Mollusc Dimension, a British-born Chinese, queer, trans, neurodivergent artist, this book is about surviving multiple hidden challenges and daring to imagine.
#CosyTrauma
'The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse' - an 80 page paperback measuring 25 cm x 18 cm tall. Squid is so excited to sign your copy! (Pre-order option available when booking for the event!)
PLEASE NOTE
For access and funding reasons, this event is free - however if you obtain a ticket and find you you cannot attend, we would be UTTERLY GRATEFUL if you’d very kindly inform us so we can put the ticket back up, as we have limited capacity. This would mean that someone who IS able to attend would be able to take your place. Thank you so much for your consideration.
Once booked, unfortunately, there will be no refunds for the pre-paid book or donations. Please do drop by when you can to collect the book and have a browse!
DONATIONS
The Mollusc Dimension is keen to support The Common Press by inviting guests to donate (if you’re able) towards their sustainability fund. Big love to QTIBIPOC + LGBTIQA+ inclusive bookshops and this one in particular. You may also of course purchase other items from the shop during your visit!
PLEASE BE AWARE
The interview and any Q&A will be video-recorded and is intended to be shared online for accessibility. The camera will be aimed at the author and the interviewer only, not the audience. The event will be photographed. Before/after the interview, our videographer Jess will invite attendees to be filmed saying a few words about how they're enjoying the event. This is completely optional. If you DO NOT want to be filmed or photographed, please do inform us upon your arrival and we'll let the Jess and JY Mak know.
ACCESSIBLE LOOS
We have gender neutral loos down a flight of stairs. At the time of writing this, our construction works are happening on-site. If the construction work is completed, there will be wheelchair accessible loos on the ground floor. If not, the closest wheelchair-accessible toilets will be at Rich Mix which is across the road from us.
COVID
We have an air-con filtration system in the bookshop along with hand sanitizer and masks. Staff with do a lateral flow the day of the event and guests are requested to do so if possible.
ABOUT
The Mollusc Dimension (AUTHOR & COMIC ARTIST)
The Mollusc Dimension (he/him) is a multidisciplinary, project-based artist. He is British-born Chinese, trans-masc, non binary, queer, bisexual, neurodivergent and disabled. Drawn to the feminist DIY art scene in the early 2000s, he has self-published 20+ zines, given talks on his art (for LDComics and Queer China UK) and tabled at zine fairs since 2011 (most recently at Helsinki Comics Fest, ESEA Gather ’N’ Grow and ESEA Cultural Festival). He’s been published by Aghh! Zine (upcoming), Bluebird Anthology, Ink Sweat & Tears, Out on the Page and Snowflake magazine.
Since 2013, he has performed live original music and/or stand-up comedy at iconic spaces such as Brockwell Park and Southbank Centre (London), Trinity Centre (Bristol) and Trans Pride (Brighton). His "StopAsianHate"-fuelled music video, Asians Have Feelings Too (2022) was funded by Arts Council England, screened in the UK, Austria, Hong Kong and the US and won an award from Trans Pride Brighton Official Film Event.
Rona Luo (INTERVIEWER)
Rona Luo is a queer, neurodivergent poet and acupuncturist working at the intersection of decolonial healing and writing as somatic practice. Her work appears or is forthcoming in Magma, The Massachusetts Review, ANMLY, Honey Literary, fourteen poems, and more. Her speculative visual poetry has been exhibited at London’s Royal Festival Hall. She has been supported by Tin House, Kundiman and Southbank Centre's New Poets Collective.
Jess Au / Tanka Studios (VIDEOGRAPHER)
I'm an art director and videographer who loves working on set. I've worked with many companies including Universal Music, Southbank Centre, Fabric, Bloomsbury Books, Google, Netflix, to name a few and love making things look good on camera. My biggest passion is collaborating with incredible creatives to make the best possible art as we can.
JY Mak (PHOTOGRAPHER)
JY first picked up the camera as a way to document and share moments with their elderly parents, who live 6000 miles away. JY’s current creative practice prioritises the documentation of QTBIPOC-centred community organising, activism and celebrations. Their work has been commissioned by organisations and collectives such as Bow Arts, kindredpacket, ESEA Sisters, Studio Voltaire and ESEA Life Drawing. When they are not behind the lens, JY works at the intersection of behavioural science, design, and technology, as an enabler for responsible health innovation and healing justice. They co-produce events such as nature walks and healing circles, to facilitate QTBIPOC folks in connecting and supporting each other, developing community-based approaches to archiving and knowledge-sharing.
