Yiri T. Kohl is an Amsterdam-based alternative comic artist, painter and poet, who published the small press comix series 'Bijlmer Boys' (1993-1995). Since 2008 he has been colorist, inspirator and sounding board for all projects of his wife Margreet de Heer, including her internationally successful 'Discoveries in Comics' book series. Together they also make 'ZMan - De Man van de Straatkrant' (2016-), a gag comic about a vendor of street newspapers, drawn by Kohl.
Early life
Born in 1975, Kohl grew up in Amsterdam's Bijlmer neighbourhood. Though he spent much of his childhood in bed with migraines, in between attacks he would draw like a madman. At age five he decided that the only career worth pursuing would be that of an artist. Among his main artistic influences are Gilbert Shelton, Peter Pontiac and Hein de Kort. During high school he grew out of the migraines, and into amphetamines, Transcendental Meditation and music.
'Bijlmer Boys' #1.
Bijlmer Boys and other activities
Between 1993 and 1995 Kohl released the first three issues of his alternative comix series 'Bijlmer Boys'. They presented the sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll lifestyle of Amsterdam's own "Freak Brothers": the mental patient Rembo, drugs-fuelled Dave and graffiti artist Roeltje, characters he had created ten years earlier. By the fourth issue, 'Going Down' (1999), expectations of a comic career were high, but the tides were against Kohl for a while, so he got a job at an IT company. Artistically, Kohl's focus shifted to making paintings and poetry, which resulted in some exhibitions and two publications. In 2004 he left his desk job at his doctor's advice. Then in 2007 he hooked up with the international theater group FoolishPeople, first as an artist, then as a performer.
'ZMan - De Man van de Straatkrant'.
Work with Margreet de Heer
In early 2008 Kohl met comic artist Margreet de Heer, who would become his wife and soulmate. They got married in January 2009. Margreet encouraged him to draw comics again. He started working on the long-awaited fifth issue of 'Bijlmer Boys', as well as a special Omnibus-edition of the first four issues. Kohl and De Heer presented the 'Bijlmerboys Omnibus' (2009) on the 6th of February 2009 at Gallery Lambiek. It took more than ten years before the sixth issue was finished, in November 2020.
Kohl has been the colorist and co-plotter of Margreet's work, most notably her widely praised 'Discoveries in Comics' (2010-2017) book series, in which difficult subject matter like philosophy, religion, science, world domination and love are humorously explored in an accessible way. The couple also appears in the books as characters, guiding the readers through all aspects of the subject, while the pair's discussions and thoughts about the matter are also portrayed. Kohl is also a helping hand during Margreet's activities as "Comics Laureate of the Netherlands" since 2017. The pair has created the comic strip 'ZMan - De Man van de Straatkrant', about a vendor of street newspapers. Written by De Heer and drawn by Kohl, the comic was intended for one of the street newspapers, but has eventually since 2016 been published in comics news magazine Stripnieuws.
Yiri T. Kohl and Senoeni (Margreet de Heer) presenting the Bijlmerboys Omnibus at Galerie Lambiek in February 2009.