When Kaisa Leka released her latest comic book Little Fish Big Fish. I felt it deserved some space on my blog. Knowing her well, I figured doing a review would be cheesy. Instead I’d like to introduce a new feature on my blog called Three Questions for and let her be the first one to give answers.

1. Most of your other comics come from experiences in your daily life. Why did you choose to take a different route this time?
[Kaisa Leka:] I’ve been writing and drawing a lot about my own experiences, and especially my largest book this far, On the Outside Looking in, was the result of quite a heavy – although successful – process. I felt that I wanted to step away from the limelight for a while, although I’m constantly doing autobiographical comics in my sketchbook blog.

2. What attracted you in Matsya out of many Hindu epics?
[Kaisa Leka:] I’ve always loved the Hindu epic Srimad Bhagavatam, which also contains the story of Matsya. The stories of SB are filled with outrageously unrealistic characters and events, and I love the way they completely defy our everyday logic. At the same time they always contain a deeper meaning, there are great spiritual realizations hidden beneath the surface. My previous books have been aimed for a grown-up audence, but I think that both children and adults will appreciate the story of Matsya.

3. Matsya’s story evokes a comparison with Noah’s ark. Although now the world doesn’t seem to be at stake, but rather the revealed scriptures. How do you respond when this comparison is made and how do you think this applies to modernity?
[Kaisa Leka:] In the story Matsya emphazises the importance of saving the scripture, and I think that this shows an essential difference between the modern way of thought and that of the Hindu sages. In the West we often think that we can conquer the world by our intellect, and that even religion must obey the laws of reason. But I feel that a life without any
mystical spiritual experiences would be quite restricted. The great flood in the story also made me think about global warming, which is the result of man’s belief in his superiority over nature, and our exploitation of the Earth and the other living beings. We must learn to respect and protect, instead of always looking for profit and enjoyment.

(Her new comic and others can be ordered from her Butik for EUR 7 excl postage)