Yugoslav Wars
This graphic narrative focuses on a Roma woman, Ružica (not her real name), retelling her life in Serbia in the 1990s where the discrimination and violence of the Yugoslav Wars shaped her childhood. She has been collaborating with graphic artist Jared Muralt since the fall of 2023 by engaging in a series of interviews to share her experiences. Jared is currently drafting character sketches of Ružica at different ages, developing a script of the narrative, and working towards a storyboard outline.
The concept drawings for the graphic novel “Ružica’s Last Summer” were recently featured at the Berner Design Foundation’s annual BESTFORM exhibition from March 28 to April 27, 2025. This event represents the first public showing of Jared’s work on the project.
We look forward to sharing more updates in the fall of 2025.
Reflecting on Process
On July 9, 2025, Research Cluster Co-Leads Drs. Franziska Zaugg and Sabine Rutar chaired a panel during the 7th Swiss History Days Conference focusing on ‘Images as bridges: Graphic novels as a means of visualizing historical experiences of violence’. They were joined by graphic artist Jared Muralt to discuss his process and collaboration on the graphic novel. The panel reflected on upon the visualizing power and impact of graphic novels within historical context, and more information can be found on our blog feature here.
In addition to the panel, Jared has been reflecting on his process and experience working with Ružica through journaling work reports. While his process will be featured in a special edition of the Malahat Review, an excerpt from his reflections is listed below and his most recent work report can be accessed here.
February 6, 2025 – Drawing a Memory
“Still waiting for Ružica’s response. I’ll send her an email with my questions so she can take her time to answer and see that my inquiries aren’t about the painful parts of her story but rather the everyday details of her life.
With the character sketches, a figure is slowly emerging, one that feels right to me, one that I like. This character will have to carry Ružica’s story, acting as an avatar for a terrible past. And as I draw her, becoming visually familiar with her, I must not think about what will happen to her in the story.
It’s a strange process, to create a character who will bear the story of a real person, who will endure what she endured. That I am doing this to her. It’s unsettling, yet it is my task. These are the thoughts I’m wrestling with at the moment.
In truth, the story flows through me, onto the paper, and projects itself into this narrative. And yet, I am searching for the right face, the right vessel to carry it all.
Normally, when I design characters, I do what I call couch sessions. I imagine them sitting across from me, like an interview, where they tell me how they feel. Sometimes they’re angry or sad about the role they’re in and sometimes they’re grateful for the adventures.
But here, when I imagine sitting across from 5-year-old, 10-year-old, or 15-year-old Ružica, I get a lump in my throat. It’s hard to look at her. Hard to meet her eyes. Because the adult Ružica has already told me what happened to this child.
So for now, I will let the child be. Let her follow the path her older self has told me. I know that, when I return to writing the script, she will start speaking to me. Artistically, I’m still working on defining her profile, her nose, her mouth, her hair. Slowly, an image is forming, something I can work with.”
Preliminary sketches by Jared Muralt, 2025.
From the Sketchbook
The following photographs feature Jared’s original concept drawings of the survivor at various ages, with some landscape and character sketches.
Collaborating in Switzerland
Ružica, Jared and Franziska are all based in Switzerland, allowing them to connect in person. The following photos, from the top left to the bottom right, include: Jared’ studio, connecting with other artists at the Zurich University of the Arts in 2024 (middle & right), Jared and Franziska (bottom left), Jared (bottom middle & right).