The gang of officious-looking sharks dressed in suits crosses the road; another does a trapeze under a spotlight; a lone shark dances in the rain at night…singing sharks, diving sharks, sharks at a night bar, a shark lounging under a beach umbrella…the blue-grey fish with their trademark fins are the centre stage of ‘Oh, Dakuwaqa!’ a range of comics, cartoons and art works by Chennai-based artist Anju Sabu. She has displayed her works in an exhibition titled ‘Sharkartoons!’
Anju’s hands have always been drawing sharks. It was a normal day in college and she was doodling away in class when the little guy appeared out of her pen. From then on, the shark took on a life of its own. Anju started using them in many of her comics. “People don’t know much about sharks,” says Anju. She feels that their portrayal in movies has only made them fearsome creatures. “People react to them negatively,” she adds. Her comics are a way of changing that.
She portrays sharks as happy creatures — they go to the beach, sing Christmas carols, and play the guitar. Anju also wants to create awareness on the need to protect sharks and has been using her comics for conservation work. She has worked with NGOs in India and abroad; these include Wildlife Trust of India, Sea Save, Shark Savers Singapore, Project Aware and Fin Free.
In her early thirties, Anju wants to one day write a children’s book on animals. She does not want to name her central character. Wouldn’t this be like naming a pet, when, to her, the shark actually lives in a parallel universe? “Also, I couldn’t settle on a name,” she says.
‘Sharkartoons!’ is on at Cuckoo Club Diner, Harrington Road till December 10.