Bringing new professors to comic-book life

Moodysson is an established comic-book artist and visual storyteller who has published several acclaimed comic books and graphic novels since her debut, Coco Platina Titan Total, in 2002.

The artistic process

While working on the portraits of the new professors, Moodysson started by devoted time to reading up on the research to select and emphasise relevant parts of academic achievements in images.

"It was a really fun assignment. I've never drawn any professors before and don't really have any close connection to the academic world.

“In my drawings, I also had to stick to the current narration in each portrait film, which is very concise. So, of course, what is shown is a condensed version of the professors' work and achievements,” says Moodysson.

She explains that her ambition has been to work with contrasts and to highlight the individuals – in this case as larger central figures in relation to the other elements in the images.

"It has been a challenge to find the right balance. Initially, I used more colour in the images, but found that this became too childish, naive. But it has been fun to work with large and small elements and slightly underlying perspectives,” says Moodysson, who intends to attend the University's Annual Academic ceremony at Malmö Live, to see the premiere of the portrait films.

Acclaimed career

Several of her comic books are autobiographical, highlighting themes such as abandoned children and yearning teenagers. She has also published avant-garde works that are more poetic and experimental in form and expression, and written the youth book, Onda krafter I Sollentuna (Evil Forces in Sollentuna).

In addition, she has collaborated with director Lukas Moodysson to adapt one of her works, Aldrig Godnatt (Never Goodnight) (2008) – which was given the title Vi är bäst (We Are the Best) (2013).