For Seekers Of Meaning
Ticket to God

It is a ‘strange city’ that Jens Harder and his readers head for in his story "Ticket to God". A city that unites yet also divides like no other. Destroyed, disputed and divided, yet home to three of the world’s major religions that coexist here: Jerusalem.

Extracts from "Ticket to God":

About the artist Jens Harder:

When Jens Harder draws, he is fully focused and should not be distracted (his children are then met only by his ‘evil eye’ or with an angry hiss).

Travelpedia: Jerusalem

© Jens Harder
Security measures are strict in Israel. You are already confronted with questions at the airport. On the streets, you often meet soldiers who are equipped with machine guns. Incidentally, they are allowed to take their weapons home and carry them in their free time and in civilian clothes. Metal detectors and bag controls at the entrances of shopping centers, train stations and sights are also said to provide more security.
© Jens Harder (Detail)
Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. All three major world religions claim a "piece of their history", their holy places: For Jews, it is the Temple Mount; for Christians, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; and Muslims, the Dome of the Rock.
© Jens Harder (Detail)
For unbelievers, the only access to the Temple Mount is via a small wooden passage next to the Wailing Wall. Sometimes, there are more than a million people in the huge square at the Temple Mount: they want to see the golden tip of the Dome of the Rock and visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The fourteen hectare plateau in the east of the old town is just as sacred for Jews as it is for Muslims.
© Jens Harder (Detail)
The Damascus Gate is the largest and the most impressive of all gates in the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is on the north side and leads to both the Muslim and Christian quarters. Most Arab residents enter the old town through this gate to go to Al-Aksa Mosque for Friday prayers.

Jonas Engelmann on "Ticket to God"

When engaging with the city, Harder opts for the perspective of an observer with a keen eye who tries to record each and every detail, address every single aspect. Graffiti and murals, the faithful affected by the Jerusalem syndrome, market stalls and construction sites: the accuracy of his eye and his love for detail are impressive."

Review

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About the artists

Learn more about our well-known artists, including Barbara Yelin, Reinhard Kleist and Sarnath Banerjee. All with proven comic expertise and sometimes with more, sometimes with less travel experience in the respective country.

About Graphic Travelogues

Graphic Travelogues presents travel experiences by comic artists from different countries, illuminates and identifies recurring topics. From sketches to graphic novels, graphic diaries and travel drawings, we collect treasures here and question concepts and motivations, techniques and experiences.

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For Seekers Of Meaning Ticket to God