German illustrations overtake Seoul

By Chung Ah-young

German picture books are known for their diversity with growing recognition on the international sphere. The National Library for Children and Young Adults will hold a special exhibition of original works by 13 German representative illustrators from Oct. 22 to Nov. 21.

They will be shown for the first time in Korea, jointly organized by the Goethe-Institute and the Troisdorf Bilderbuchmuseum.

The exhibition consists of a total of 65 illustrations ― five each from the 13 artists such as Janosch, Klaus Ensikat, Wolf Erlbruch, Jutta Bauer, Nikolaus Heidelbach and Karoline Kehr.

Known for his extremely prolific and internationally renowned German author/illustrator of books for young children, Janosch has published over 100 children's books. His works have been translated into 47 languages with some 5 million copies sold worldwide. He has written not only his playful and grotesquely funny tales for young children, but also several novels for adults.

Considered one of the most brilliant contemporary book artists, Ensikat is known for his real-to-life characters that draw readers’ attention. He has worked as an independent artist focusing on book illustration and design since 1965. He has also received numerous awards for his works and, with his books, participated in many national competitions.

Erlbruch is noted for his trademark minimal and simple strokes that turn simple and common subjects and characters into fascinating illustrations with dialogues.

Bauer has illustrated some 40 books and received high-profile awards since she published her first picture books in 1981. Living and working in Hamburg, she has worked for various publishing houses and magazines and participated in producing animated films in 1991.

Heidelbach, who studied German, art history and theatre arts in Cologne and Berlin, has illustrated children’s books, poems, stories and fairy tales. In addition to many picture books with his own text, he has also worked for magazines and drawn many cover illustrations.

Among others, the exhibition features Nadia Budde, who won the German Youth Literature Awards at the 2010 Frankfurt Book Fair. She will attend the exhibition’s opening ceremony to give an explanation of the German illustrations. She will also meet Korean children at her workshops on Oct. 23 and 24.

“The exhibition will be a good opportunity to understand German masterpieces of the picture books by young aspiring artists and various and stylish German illustrations,” the library said in a statement.

Applications for the exhibition can be made at its website www.nlcy.go.kr or call (02) 3413-4757 for the opening ceremony and (02) 3413-4840 for the workshops.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr