Swedish publisher Rabén & Sjögren has just released their fall catalogue and in it we find Kitty Crowther’s Le petit homme et Dieu in Swedish translation. The book will be released in August and it is translated by none other than Lennart Hellsing.
“En dag går den lille mannen ut på en promenad.
Vid sidan av stigen träffar han på Någonting.
– Bli inte rädd, säger den där Någonting.
Lättare sagt än gjort, tänker den lille mannen.
– Vem är ni? frågar han artigt.
– Jag är Gud.”
Today is the last chance to see Nikolaus Heidelbach’s exhibition: Almost Alone. Drawings for Everyone curated by Hamelin in Bologna. This exhibition was one of the highlights during the Bologna Book Fair as it is an unique opportunity to get an insight into one of Germany’s greatest contemporary illustrators.
The work of Nikolaus Heidelbach is not easily categorized. His choice of subject matters, often touching on the taboo in children’s literature, show a childhood which is neither secure nor innocent.
Among others, the exhibition features the illustrations from Was machen die Jungs? published by Beltz & Gelberg in 1999. In this compelling book each letter of the alphabet is represented by a boy in a particular situation. Charles, for example, makes a Faustian bargain with a childlike devil in exchange of a pacifier.
In the audience in Bologna, Ann James cheered as Shaun Tan’s name was announced as the winner of this year’s Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Together with Ann Haddon, she founded Books Illustrated, an organization which promotes Australian picture books through their book store, showroom and website. They also organize workshops and curate touring exhibitions of contemporary Australian illustration.
Fans of Shaun Tan will be happy to note that Books Illustrated sell both original work as well as exclusive prints by him.
On the 29th of March, we announced that Shaun Tan is this year’s recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Here are just a few of the numerous reactions to the announcement in media:
World News Australia
Each year Bologna Book Fair presents a guest of honor – this year it was Lithuania’s turn. Contemporary Lithaunian illustration was displayed in an inventive and creative exhibition, Illustrarium.
While Illustrarium showed the diversity of Lithuanian illustration today, a lesser known part of Lithuanian children’s book history was on display in the city center. The exhibition Soviet gave an unique insight into Lithuanian children’s book illustration during the Soviet occupation 1945-1990. Some of the exhibited books were examples of how children’s literature can be an instrument for propaganda (in this case communist propaganda). Others showed how children’s books can sustain and reinforce national identity. Others still were simply great illustration.
Especially notable is the work made in the 60ies, by artists such as Birute Zilyte and Vladislovas Zilius is vibrating with color – combining folk art with pop art in a wonderfully creative way!
Spending time at Lithuania’s exhibitions in Bologna was a very positive experience – they managed to show both the strength of their children’s book illustration today as well as present their fascinating recent history of illustration.
We highly recommend visiting Shaun Tan’s website, where one can spend hours reading his own reflections on his books and art. In the news section he comments on the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award:
…”The award is not only a personal achievement, but I think reflects broader efforts of Australian authors, illustrators, publishers and supporting associations to promote innovative storytelling on an international stage. I’ve often that our books are some of the most daringly experimental, constantly testing tradition: it’s also worth noting that Melbourne-based author Sonja Hartnett also won this award in 2008.
Of course, it’s a incredible honour to be simply be considered for this award, let alone to win it. It does give me pause to reflect on my work as a whole within an international context. I remember first visiting Bologna Book Fair and feeling terribly insignificant and somewhat out of place as a young illustrator from Perth, wondering how my work fit into the vast scheme of this particular universe. It’s hugely gratifying to think that so many years of patient commitment and experiment, often following quite idiosyncratic obsessions, have been appreciated and recognized in this way. Many thanks are of course due to my publishers in Australia for all of their support, and those individuals and organizations that have been so active in bringing the work of Australian creators to an international stage.” …
Jury member Maria Lassén-Seger held a presentation about the work of Shaun Tan, directly after the announcement. The presentation gives insight in Shaun Tan’s remarkable body of work as well as the jury’s interpretation of it. See the presentation here.
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 