The Spirit of Vaslav Nijinksy

The Spirit of Vaslav Nijinsky (2016), on display in the exhibition The Faces We Present, is a short comic written and illustrated by Kathryn Martin chronicling a critical six weeks of ballet star Vaslav Nijinsky's life. Set in 1919, it spans from the day of his final dance recital to his diagnosis as a paranoid schizophrenic.
In this talk Kathryn will introduce Nijinsky's story, celebrate his influence and legacy, and detail how historical documents and artefacts influenced the creation of the comic's narrative and visual aesthetic.
Kathryn is a multi-award winning illustrator, writer and university lecturer. She is a keen researcher into theatre and performance history, with a passion for early Twentieth Century ballet and modern dance. A four page edition of The Spirit of Vaslav Nijinsky was shortlisted in 2016 for the Jonathan Cape/Observer/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize.