Bologna Illustration Annual, Volume 1

Author: Bologna Children's Book Fair Organizing Committee
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Illustrators who pursue truth, goodness, and beauty throughout their lives see the world as pure, free, and full of fantasy in their hearts. Each of their works, with diverse styles and profound beauty, reflects the artists' boundless love for the world and their hopes for children—children's innocent hearts and expressions. As we savor these illustrations, we find ourselves immersed in a fairy tale, our minds as transparent as ever, feeling only sincerity and love. The publication of the Chinese Simplified edition of Bologna Illustration Annual brings us closer together. —He Jie, Vice President and Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Renowned Design Artist
Bologna in Italy is like a giant magic bottle. Every year, countless imaginative stories, dreamlike visuals, and vibrant characters pour out of it, captivating hundreds of millions of children worldwide, while also taking adults back to their youth and rejuvenating the elderly. I love illustrating children's themes because it allows me to approach my readers with a pure heart, free from any constraints. Each time I flip through the Bologna Illustration Annual, I feel a sense of excitement and fulfillment. Outstanding children's illustrators from around the world use their brushes, dipped in genuine emotion, to touch people's hearts. The artists abandon didactic approaches, instead using a calm and imaginative visual language to move readers, conveying a message: kindness, courage, compassion, strength, and a confident belief in life. The publication of the Chinese Simplified edition of the Bologna Illustration Annual will undoubtedly be cherished by those who appreciate it, its charm coming from the works' extraordinary creativity—precisely what is lacking in contemporary Chinese illustration art education. I hope more readers will love it and show respect for the artists and writers around the world who dedicate themselves to creating spiritual products for children, for they allow millions of children worldwide to have the same fantasies as Harry Potter. They also help adults living on this planet, where strange events happen every moment, to retain a touch of innocence. —Lü Jingren, Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Renowned Book Artist and Illustrator
To draw the most beautiful pictures for children is the duty of a children's book illustrator. Every year, Bologna gathers over 5,000 works by nearly a thousand artists, making it a grand gathering! Each illustration is filled with innocence and fantasy, and all techniques and colors have melted into a deep love for children, spreading through the world via "Bologna." Heartfelt congratulations on the publication of the Chinese Simplified edition of Bologna Illustration Annual! —Wu Guanying, Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Renowned Illustrator
Excellent artworks and illustrations in children's books should appeal to children of all ages. The Bologna Illustration Annual introduces the trends in children's book art and illustration each year. For me personally, it is a truly joyous occasion that this annual is published in China. It feels absolutely magical! After all, art exchange should not be limited by political boundaries but should be shared by people worldwide. Just as in sports and music, great art should also be a global treasure, enjoyed by people everywhere. I sincerely hope you will love the diverse illustrations we have selected and that this book will inspire and inspire your creativity. I hold a wish: more Chinese artists and illustrators will participate in future Bologna art exhibitions. I firmly believe that the talented artists and illustrators nurtured by this land possess extraordinary potential, which could greatly enrich our art exhibitions and annual publications. Here, I actively encourage Chinese artists to submit their works. (www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it)
The Bologna Illustration Annual is a window opened for the global publishing industry. Many world-renowned artists have used participating in the Bologna exhibition as the starting point of their artistic careers. Some artists had not even published a book before. The publication of the Bologna Illustration Annual has given publishers, authors, booksellers, and art enthusiasts around the world the opportunity to appreciate these outstanding works. The Bologna Illustration Annual is the official literary annual of the Bologna International Children's Book Fair and the development of illustration, published annually alongside the fair. It features works by highly accomplished illustrators. Each piece showcases unique creativity, technique, and artistic impact, representing the trends and artistic standards of international illustration. It serves as an important reference for professionals in painting, design, book editing, and art enthusiasts. The Chinese Simplified edition of the Bologna Illustration Annual will be published in three volumes, with each volume containing four books. Volume 1 collects outstanding works from 1991 to 1994; Volume 2 features works from 1995 to 1998; and Volume 3 includes works from 1999 to 2002. Some works, though created over several years, have gained increasing recognition in the industry and have become classic reference materials for illustration teaching in art schools and essential collections in libraries. We will collaborate with the Bologna Children's Book Fair Organizing Committee and the annual editors to continue releasing related classic books and introduce outstanding Chinese illustrators and their works to the world.