The comic author Alison Bechdel (*10.9.1960, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, USA) became known to a wide audience through her graphic novel and "New York Times" bestseller "Fun Home. A Family of Drawn", published in German in 2008. The masterpiece, which was named Book of the Year by Time Magazine in 2006 and went on to achieve worldwide success and acclaim, focuses on Bechdel's family history and relationship with her father, which was characterised by his repressed bisexuality.
Six years later, her second autobiographical story "Who is the mother here? A comic drama", sheds light on her complex and confusing relationship with her mother. Both books touch the reader with their references to classic literature, the interweaving of psychological insights and a clever analysis characterised by honesty, insight and humour. Alison Bechdel is also the author of the queer newspaper comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For", published from 1983 onwards, which also appears in several anthologies. In this intelligent and witty soap opera, readers follow a circle of friends in a medium-sized US city through their everyday lives. The mostly lesbian friends and their experiences are interwoven with social and political themes in a sophisticated and accessible way. This comic strip also contains what later became known as the "Bechdel test", a not entirely serious examination of gender stereotypes in feature films: A film is sexist if it does not involve at least two independent actresses who also talk about something other than men.
The Cartoonmuseum Basel is presenting a major retrospective of the Eisner Award-winning artist for the first time in Europe. Ink drawings from all her works are complemented by originals from her latest book "Das Geheimnis meiner Superkraft" (The Secret of My Superpower), a surprisingly colourful self-reflection on the search for meaning, sport, addiction and the author's efforts to slow down the clock of life. A special treat for all fans are as yet unpublished extracts from a comedy that will be released in 2025.
Vernissage: Friday, 4 July 2025, 6.30 pm
Press conference: Thursday, 3 July 2025, 11 a.m.
Curator: Anette Gehrig