The Paper's reporter Xu Xiao
On the afternoon of November 18, the "2021 Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award Original Illustration Exhibition" opened at the Shanghai Baoshan International Folk Art Expo Center.
This year marks the fortieth year of Chen Bochui's establishment of the Children's Literature Award, and the seventh year of the exhibition. As an important brand activity of the "Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award", the exhibition takes "internationality, originality, classicism and childlike fun" as the core concept, and is open to professional illustrators around the world and all children and painting enthusiasts who love to read and paint, actively advocate the purpose of reading classic literature, fully stimulate the creative imagination space of participants, and cultivate future illustrators with reading and painting, adding a childlike artistic temperament to the city.
At present, the global epidemic situation is still complex and changeable, and unilateralism, protectionism and the countercurrent of globalization pose a huge threat and challenge to the progress of human civilization and the peaceful development of the world. The destiny of mankind is shared, and only by working together in the same boat, maintaining openness and inclusiveness, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning can we overcome the difficulties together. With the annual theme of "Journey Together", the illustrated exhibition expresses the hope that humanity will work together to create a better future.
Nearly 600 works by more than 160 illustrators in more than 30 countries have reached a new high in the calendar year
After seven years of deep cultivation, growth and development, the reputation and influence of the illustration exhibition have been increasingly enhanced, the international elements have become more prominent, and the spillover effect of the brand has gradually emerged, attracting more and more outstanding picture book artists and illustrators at home and abroad to actively submit articles.
In the professional group, the organizers received nearly 600 works from more than 160 illustrators from more than 30 countries such as China, Italy, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, Romania, the United States, Mexico, South Korea, and the Philippines. The number of participants, the number of countries and the number of works all reached new highs in previous years. Among the contributors are representatives of the global field of children's illustration, many of whom have been selected for the Bologna Illustration Exhibition and won awards in international competitions. Illustrators of different skin colors, races and beliefs expressed their thoughts and interpretations of the theme of the year and their visions of a better future with their brushes: or whimsical ideas to create a fantastic journey of imagination and color; or to discover the beauty of life, to understand the philosophy of life, to depict a warm and healing spiritual journey; or to call on all people to work together to outline a journey of unity of purpose.
In terms of the public group, the exhibitors continued to advocate reading classics, and young readers drew inspiration from the 10 award-winning works of the "Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award" last year, and in more than 2500 submitted works, many "little artists" stood out in terms of image narrative, painting skills and imagination. It is worth mentioning that the public group also received overseas works from Australia, the United States and Canada for the first time this year, which enhanced brand awareness and influence.
For the judging, the organizers invited the American children's book historian Leonard M. S. Marcus, who served as the final judge for the illustrator, is one of the most influential scholars in the history of children's literature in the world today, writing a book review for The New York Times for 21 consecutive years. Other judges include Natalie Bo, director of the International Department of the National Children's Literature Center of the National Library of France, Xiong Liang, a famous picture book artist in China, Yu Lan, a senior children's book editor, Fei Jia, and Ding Shi, secretary general of the Shanghai Artists Association, which also ensure the professionalism and authority of the illustration exhibition.
The winners of the public group received the award
Cooperation, inclusiveness and mutual learning, artists work together to outline a beautiful picture of mankind
The exhibition area uses blue as the main color, symbolizing the vast sky and ocean, but also pointing to the ideal poetry and distance. The shape of the exhibition area is like two clenched hands, which means to move forward hand in hand and create a better future in life. A series of vivid and meaningful works together compose a beautiful picture of peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual learning, leading people to create a better home. The site also designed an interactive extension of multiple exhibits, which is worth punching in to explore.
The series "Journey to a Mysterious World", which won the annual award of this year's illustration exhibition, was created by German illustrator Sonja Danowski. The work depicts a mysterious world of exotic plants, rugged stone houses and a group of magical creatures. Although this group of creatures is of different sizes and abilities, they know how to reciprocate and help each other, and together they create a wonderful and interesting livable home. Author Sonia has also created illustrations for books by famous Chinese children's literature writers such as Cao Wenxuan and Fang Suzhen.
One of the German illustrators Sonia Danovsky's series "Journey to the Mysterious World" (Annual Award in the Professional Category)
Sonia delivered her acceptance speech
The main visual award for this year's illustration exhibition comes from British illustrator Carly Gledhill's winning work Arrival. This colorful set of works depicts a variety of small animals that rarely intersect, traveling in different means of transportation to start the sky, the sea and the deep sea. Playful and cute animal shapes and colorful color combinations open up a strange and wonderful fantasy journey for the audience. At a time when the global epidemic is still spreading, it will bring warmth and healing hearts to children big and small around the world.
One of British illustrator Carly Gladhill's Arrival (Main Visual Award)
The second prize winner, Yue Shuai from Nanning, Guangxi Province, drew inspiration from traditional Chinese culture and reinterpreted the story of the traditional Peking Opera short-fought martial arts drama "Three Forks" with illustrations. The night in the work is not only black, but as the protagonist's fight becomes more and more intense and the final misunderstanding dissolves, the background color of the night is transformed into a warm red and a jumping pink, making the narrative of the work more three-dimensional and rich.
One of the series of works "He and His Night Journey" in Nanning, Guangxi (Second Prize in the Professional Group)
Yue Shuai explained his creative philosophy through video
The illustration exhibition promotes the construction of a cooperation platform, and there will be various forms of activities in the future
After seven years of continuous cultivation, the successful holding of the illustration exhibition has built a platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation in the fields of Chinese and foreign children's literature, illustration creation, publishing, education, research and promotion.
Italian illustrator Cristina Lanotte, who has contributed to the exhibition for three consecutive years, has successfully joined hands with China China Welfare Association Publishing House this year, and her 2020 exhibition "Red Dress" will be officially published to meet Chinese audiences in the near future.
This year, the illustration exhibition also cooperated with Zhang Hong, a senior media person in Shanghai, a children's literature writer and the founder of the "Magic Children's Book Club", to carry out the "Big Coffee Cloud Guided Tour" activity. The audience can listen to many winners of the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award from Jiu'er, Mike Xiaokui, Liu Yuhang and so on, and give professional and detailed explanations to the winning works of the 11 groups of illustration exhibitions in the form of online guided tours, and multi-angle guide references, bringing a more intuitive and intimate viewing experience to the audience who like illustrations. This year, following the Duoyunxuan Art Center, the traveling tour of the illustration exhibition will also enter more cultural landmarks and major brand bookstores in the Yangtze River Delta. At the beginning of the new year, the electronic weekly calendar and exquisite wallpaper of the illustration exhibition will also be officially launched.
During the illustration exhibition, Xiong Liang, a famous artist and famous original picture book artist in Baoshan, also held a special exhibition "Sowing the Seeds of Imagination - Children Growing Up in Painting Their Own Countries" in conjunction with the Expo Museum, in the form of exhibitions, guided lectures and children's experience activities, to explore the imagination potential of children and further promote the concept of cultivating future illustrators in the original illustration exhibition.
The 2021 Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award Original Illustration Exhibition will last until January 16, 2022.
Editor-in-Charge: Chen Shihuai