Homepage

Record

RepositoryUniversity Archives and Special Collections Centre
Reference NumberLCO/1/3
TitleAleksandar Zograf collection
DescriptionAleksandar Zograf is the pen name of Serbian comic book artist and writer Saša Rakezic . The artist started self-publishing comics in Serbia in the late 1980s and started being recognised on the international comic book scene in the early 1990s when his work started to appear in American comic anthologies such as 'Weirdo' [LCO/1/1/1/22] and 'Zero Zero' [LCO/1/4/71]. Zograf's work is heavily influenced by his experiences in the former Yugoslavia which he portrays in a dark and amusing manner. More recently Zograf has drawn inspiration from his 'hypnagogic visions' - imagery that appears to him when he is in a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep.

Coleman was a strong supporter of Zograf's work through collecting his comics and promoting him on the UK comic scene. Alongside commercially published works 'Life under Sanctions' and 'Psychonaut', a lot of Zograf's comics have been self-published and sold online or by mail. These mini-comics and zine like publications include 'Alas Comics' and 'Hypnagogic review'. Additionally Zograf's comics have been released as anthologies such as 'Dream Watcher'. In 'Bulletins from Serbia' and 'Regards from Serbia' his comic strips were published alongside diary entries and emails sent during the time of the Yugoslavian conflict.

It is evident from correspondence in the collection that Coleman and Zoghraf were personal friends and fellow comic fanatics who regularly exchanged letters, postcards and Christmas cards. In 2007 Coleman and Paul Gravett organised an exhibition for that year's COMICA event entitled 'Hypnagogism: Dreaming with Aleksandar Zograf'. A booklet was released alongside the exhibition in which Coleman interviewed Zograf about his life and work. Included in Coleman's collection is an original black and white ink drawing by Zograf entitled 'Poetry'. A small but comprehensive collection of Zograf's work it demonstrates Coleman's deep appreciation of this unique and enigmatic European comic book artist.
Date1991-2011
CreatorLes Coleman
Extent30 items
LevelSeries
Custodial HistoryThe collection was donated to the University of Arts London Archives and Special Collection's Centre by his son Max Coleman.
Add to My Items
    Tell Us About It Archive

    Tell Us About It Archive

    Useful Links

    Showcase

    Some of our many archives and collections

    Her Noise Archive
    Her Noise Archive
    Les Coleman Collection
    Les Coleman Collection
    Stanley Kubrick Archive
    Stanley Kubrick Archive
    Tell Us About It Archive
    Tell Us About It Archive
    Explore