ROC artists set for Bologna Children’s Book Fair

2015-02-06

Five Taiwan artists were selected for the illustrator exhibition at the annual Bologna Children’s Book Fair March 30 to April 2, the largest representation for the nation since 2006.

Chen Yu-lin, Hsu Ming-hong, Lin Lian-en, Liu Hsu-kung and Wang Shu-man were among 76 illustrators chosen from 3,000 worldwide. Launched in 1963, the fair is one of the most important international events dedicated to children’s publishing and the multimedia industry.

“Such exciting news reaffirms the robust development of local artists on the international stage,” a Ministry of Culture official said Feb. 5. “We applaud them for their inclusion in this special event for the illustration sector.”

According to the official, each artist must submit five original illustrations in black and white or color, produced using any technique. Sourced from emerging and established talents, entries are divided into fiction and nonfiction, with all contending for the BCBF International Award for Illustration.

The artists will also have their works included in the “2015 BCBF Annual Illustrators Catalogue” and showcased during touring exhibitions of Japanese museums organized by Japan Board on Books for Young People.

“Although all the illustrators are in with a chance for the award,” the official said, “first-time selection Liu is a favorite on the strength of his drawings of everyday life seen through the eyes of animals on a bus in the picture book ‘Whose Stop Is It?’”

Another contender is Wang with illustrations from her new picture book “Star-chasing Birds,” the official said, adding that its theme encouraging children to dream big is extremely creative and inspiring. The artist first shot to BCBF fame in 2006 with “Return to that Place.”

This year’s fair features 1,200 publishers from 75 countries and is expected to attract more than 25,000 trade representatives.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=227189&CtNode=413)