GARPA by Pema Tshering

"GARPA: The attendant" is the first graphic novel from Bhutan, produced by a group of passionate artists, headed by artist Pema Tshering. The story is inspired by a legendary Bhutanese character called Garba Lungi Khorlo. It is believed that Garba Lungi Khorlo could run at the speed of the wind, and was the official message "courier" or attendant for the ruling leaders. The comic book story uses this character and creates a fictional story set in the 1800s Bhutan.

• by Pema Tshering (Writer/Artists),
• Tempa Rabgay (Inker/Character Designer),
• Wang Rana Gurung (Colorist/Character Designer),
• Tshewang Namgay (Character Designer),
• Zuki Nima (Mood Colorist)

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Pema Tshering is a working artist, illustrator, designer and the founder of Thimphu Comics. In 1998, he started learning art at VAST Bhutan, the only contemporary art center in Bhutan, under the guidance of Asha Kama, and other VAST founders. His art has been exhibited in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Maldives, Singapore and Japan. He has also honed his storytelling skills by writing and directing two short films, which have been screened in international film festivals and events. Pema has also produced short animations and has illustrated multiple childrens books.

He is a founding member of VAST Bhutan, and also one of the art instructors there. Pema Tshering recently was selected for an art residency program in Japan (The Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale) where he worked with a Japanese manga artist to produce the first Bhutanese-Japanese Manga Comic which was exhibited in the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum.