22nd June, 2026

What am I working on?

On a new comic page - Freaks on Lease. It is about 5 friends staying in a society. See what unfolds on @freaksonlease

What am I reading?

I recently picked up How It All Ends, a coming-of-age graphic novel by Emma Hunsinger. Honestly, the coming-of-age genre is packed with masterpieces like This One Summer and by comparison, Hunsinger’s book is a much simpler read.

However, where it caught my attention is in its execution. The book brilliantly captures the protagonist’s inner monologue, illustrating those raw, agonizing thoughts about how everything can end up being embarrassing for her. It transforms the surreal, hilarious chaos of teenage anxiety into something real and relatable.

Visually, the storytelling is good, similar to Magic fish way of depicting scenes in different colours. The inner thoughts are rendered in a distinct red hue, separating her inner panic from reality. The everyday is drawn in aqua and some highlights are shown in bright yellow to emphasize key moments. The lettering is not always defined, it nicely merges within the illustration in many pages.

At its core, it’s a story about learning to be comfortable with yourself and forming your own identity at a time when the world is constantly trying to influence you.

I am also currently reading "Nawabs, Nudes and Noodles" by Ambi Parameswaran, which charts the fascinating journey of advertising in India. More to come on that in the next blog post!

What am I watching/watched recently?

After reading Creativity, Inc., you truly begin to look at Pixar films through a different lens. It makes you deeply appreciate the incredible layer of small, clever nuances that the creators painstakingly bake into these movies. Toy Story 5 is absolutely packed with them; from clever take of how Bullseye only runs when his string is pulled, to funny way Smarty Pants shows fart as 1.5 between number 1 and 2 to the bittersweet visual of how kids roughly etch their names onto the toy.

Beyond the jokes, the film tackles a modern crisis that every current parent understands: physical toys vs. digital screens. The storyline explores how tablets and screens are encroaching on real playtime, and subtly highlights the terrifying weight that small online comments and GIFs can have on a child’s expanding worldview. Hats off to the Pixar team for keeping the narrative tension alive using a conflict that feels so urgent and real. The emotional core of the film belongs entirely to Jessie, as she steps fully into the limelight. Her mission is helping her shy owner, Bonnie, navigate the daunting task of making real-life friends. What I loved is how the movie starts with "When she loved me" (about a child falling out of love with their toy). In my opinion, it is a song that speaks directly to parents who dread the inevitable day their children grow up and no longer need them. And it ends with a new song in credits sung by Taylor Swift "I knew it, I knew you".

Although, I think that stretching this IP more will be very difficult for Pixar as it has run its course.

New thing I learnt lately?

Around 1960s, a movement of artists began rejecting the passive viewing experience in museums. Instead of maintaining distance and preventing touching any item, they invited the audience to touch, manipulate, and physically alter the artwork, changing the definition of what art can be. Yoko Ono’s Painting to Be Stepped On is a prime example of breaking these museum taboos. As the title explicitly commands, the artwork was placed directly on the floor and designed to be stepped on by viewers, challenging the concept of preservation. The idea was to incorporate the sense of touch makes art far more accessible and meaningful, especially for individuals with visual impairments who rely on tactile experiences to engage with the world.

I recently came across 'Touch and description tours' by MoMA where visitors can actually touch specific sculptures and historical materials while a guide shares vivid descriptions, making the art come alive for everyone.