BIENNIAL OF ILLUSTRATIONS BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA 2011

Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava

The India Section of the Biennial

The Middle panel shows illustrations done by Soumen Bhowmick of India

Suvidha Mistry, Soumen Bhowmick, Sanjay Sarkar and Ajit Narayanan were the selected Illustrators from India. After 15 years India got selected. Its one of the most prestigious Biennial for Illustrators. My picture book illustrations for BUNBUN AND THE MANGO TREE and TORU NANU AND HIPU written by Manorama Jafa of Khaas Kitaab got selected. PEACE STORY and BHABLOO BEAR'S ADVENTURE illustrated by Suvidha Mistry were displayed there.
The 23rd Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava /BIB/ will start on 2nd September 2011. The festive opening will took place on in the Historic Building of the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. The competition part of BIB will be presented again in Dom umenia (House of Culture), Nám. SNP 12 as it was the case in the past. Their will take part 44 countries, 356 illustrators with the 2318 illustrations from the 458 books. Except of the competition part of children books illustration originals we traditionally presented the exhibitions of BIB Grand Prix winners of the previous year and the winners of H. CH. Andersen Prize for the year 2010 at the Biennial. In the central Hall of Honour of the House of Culture a large collection of Spanish illustrator Josep Antoni Tássies Penella will be presented at BIB 2011. He was awarded Grand Prix BIB 2009 for his illustrations. We also will present the works of Jutta Bauer from Germany awarded with H. CH. Andersen Prize 2010 for her illustrations. Together with the originals and reproductions of the awarded artists also books and the text abut David Almond from United Kingdom awarded with H. CH. Andersen Prize 2010 for the literature will be presented.

Since 1967, every odd year in Bratislava has been connected with the international juried exhibition of original illustrations of children's books. The Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB) is held under the auspices of UNESCO and IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People) and with the support of the SR Ministry of Culture. BIBIANA, international house of art for children, is the principal organizer of the event. The BIB International Jury gives the following prestigious awards: Grand Prix BIB, Golden Apples BIB, Plaques BIB to illustrators and Honorary Mention to a Publishing House. In the past, some more prizes had been granted, namely Golden Plaque BIB, Bronze Plaque BIB and Honorary Mention BIB.
Moreover, an independent Children’s Jury made up of children, former winners of some Slovakia’s nationwide artistic competition, meets to make its own selection and awards an illustrator the BIB Children’s Jury Prize.

The middle panel shows illustrations done by Soumen Bhowmick for the book TORU NANU and HIPU

Illustrations done by Soumen Bhowmick for the book BUNBUN and THE MANGO TREE

Illustrations for BUNBUN and THE MANGO TREE by Soumen Bhowmick

Illustrations for children books by other Indian Illustrators

JOIN MY CIRCUS

Pen and ink on newspaper

Among the most thrilling job in this world, is performing in a circus…the trapeze or maybe the clown with lots of mischief. Or probably the ring master, donning the all too masterly cap of order and submission. Just join my circus, get in and perform. Be the other self of your soul. Challenge the devil or play with destiny. Choices galore!
Clumsy, nauseating, teary, pagan, traumatic, sarcasm, funny…all too obvious words associated with the life of a clown. Cornered from this so called society of sensible individuals. So much to think about and cheer in this ‘CIRCUS’. Caring tears just spilled down my face, touching the ground full of bones. I do care for the clown…for the clown is ME, MYSELF and I. Pampering my senses with the gut wrenching challenges of the trapeze, the swirl of the moment, full of clapping hands later on. Come on, guys lets make this clowning moment of your life the most memorable of all. Throw the dagger into the black hole of despair, pull the trigger of luck, climb the ladder of champions, run the never ending track of freedom, cheer for life, ride on the back of galloping moments, fight with the monster called death. Its all there in this circus of mine…so join now.
Tigers making the most fearful sound of joy will surprise you. Well, they are very amusing in appearance, well dressed, clean shaven, full of style and etiquette's, punctual, harboring none of the dark side of the moon matter. They jostle there way to success. Tampering and manipulating on the rise. They just won’t stop, clearly a case of over indulgence with life. It’s crowded, no doubt but that’s the fun. How to kill or get killed…the deal is very clear. Push through the crowd of self proclaimed clowns and you will see the true one, standing in the corner, ready to cry for you. So just beat the heat of this summer and climb on to this moment of uncertain terms of performing in a CIRCUS!

Pen and ink on paper

Pen and ink on paper