David Shrigley. Cat Basket No.2, 2003.
                        © the artist 2007. Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London

Cult fiction is an entertaining and thoughtful exhibition of art and comics brought together in union at Nottingham Castle. There is a plethora of great artists on show who have created hangings, ink drawings, storyboards, sculptures and printed comics.

Featuring work from David Shrigley, Jon Pylypchuk, Killoffer and Daniel Clowes you will be titillated, amused and enlightened by these idiosyncratic accounts and surreal tales. Shrigley’s cat basket looks like it is freeze-framed in animation spilling out of date custard through it’s wicker weave gaps.

Travis Millard’s ink drawing is a character from his mini-zine “Class Picture Day at the School for Hairy Faced Children.” Titled ‘Sally’ it is intriguingly odd staring at the drug-eyed face full of locks of hair quite like looking at the Mona Lisa on psychedelics. The depiction of fiction by these artists can be seen as sinister or bizarre as they use the comic and graphic novel a medium for kidulthood as an outlet for real and surreal concepts.

During August Broadway Cinema is screening graphic novel adaptations including American Splendor and Ghost World. Comic book and animation workshops are running at the castle for adults on 11th August, for 15-17yr olds on 31st July and 12-14yr olds on 28th August. There is a fee for workshops. A free talk lead by Paul Gravett on his essay ‘Intimate and Strange Situations’ is on Saturday 4th August 2.30 – 4.00pm. Booking is essential at all events: 0115 9153651

A personal suggestion is that you do a sicky from work and head out to the castle to absorb the ideas of the comic art creators -   Travis Millard. Sally, 2004

they who phoned in sick to do the final cut © Travis Millard 2007. Courtesy the artist and Richard and paste pages, that is.                        Heller Gallery, Los Angeles

Cult Fiction is at Nottingham Castle 14th July – 2nd September 2007.