SAMSARA IS ABOUT FEELING LOST IN A SENSE OF PURPOSE, I WAS 22 WHEN I STARTED THIS PROJECT, AND I DIDN’T HAVE A SOLID IDEA OF MY LIFE TRAJECTORY ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE STORIES. THE EARLY DRAFTING CONCEPT OF THE STORY TO ME WAS ANOTHER “WHAT IF?” PREMISE THAT I BLEW OUT OF PROPORTION (WHICH I’LL KEEP VAGUE TO AVOID SPOILERS). THE CORE THEME IS THE IDEA OF A NEVER-ENDING CYCLE OF EMOTIONS, THE HIGHS AND LOWS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THE EMOTION BEHIND THE STORY RINGS TRUE TO MY INNER WORRIES TOWARDS EXISTENTIALISTIC THOUGHTS OF PURPOSE. I’VE ALWAYS FELT AT A LOSS WHEN IT CAME TO AN ANSWER OF WHAT MY LIFE AMOUNTS TO. I WANTED TO CAPTURE HOW I WAS FEELING AT THE TIME AND USE THE STORY AS A WAY OF EXPUNGING MY SELF-DOUBTS AND FEARS TOWARDS “PURPOSE”.
PERSONALLY, I HAVE A HARD TIME ARTICULATING MY FEELINGS WHICH STOPS ME FROM BEING OPEN ABOUT MY MENTAL HEALTH. SINCE I STARTED WRITING/MAKING COMICS I HAVE FOUND SOLACE IN BEING ABLE TO REFLECT INTERNALLY WHAT’S GOING ON IN MY HEAD THROUGH FICTIONALISED SCENARIOS THAT RESONATE WITH WHAT I WAS FEELING AT THE TIME I MADE IT. CREATIVE EXPRESSION HAS BEEN AN OUTLET I HAVE COME TO FIND THERAPEUTIC FOR TIMES WHEN I NEED TO SELF-REFLECT. THIS STORY AND ALL ITS ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS OF WORK, THE ART OF THE BOOK VISUALLY CHANGING AS YOUR READ IT. I WANTED TO REFLECT MY PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH MY ART JUST LIKE HOW NEIL GROWS IN THIS STORY. I AM SO GLAD TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO PUT IT OUT INTO THE WORLD FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE, I HOPE THE PEOPLE THAT TO READ IT RESONATE WITH IT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ENJOY IT.
THANK YOU