Israeli illustrator, comic book artist and former editor of the Hebrew edition of MAD magazine Rutu Modan on the real stories behind her award-winning comics and graphic novels. In conversation with fellow comics and graphic novel expert Ariel Kahn, Artistic Director of the National Library of Israel’s Comics Residency project will discuss inventing stories where truth often has little to do with reality.

In partnership with the National Library of Israel.

Rutu Modan is an Israeli Illustrator, comics artist and Professor at the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design, Jerusalem.  Modan received several times the Israel Museum Award for children’s book illustration. In 2008 her book Exit Wound won the Eisner Award for the best comics book. Her second graphic novel The Property won the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Novel of 2014.

Her last graphic novel Tunnels was published in 2021. It was critically acclaimed and was chosen for  10 Best Graphic Novel of 2021, by The New York Times, Forbes and Le Monde between others.
Modan’s books were translated into more than 15 languages. She currently lives in Tel Aviv with her family.

Dr Ariel Kahn is a novelist and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Middlesex University, and has written extensively about comics. His first novel, Raising Sparks, was shortlisted for The Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize. He is currently working on his second.