On February 12, the Original Illustration Exhibition of Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award was launched in Shanghai’s Duoyunxuan Art Center, the first stop of its tour in 2023.

With the theme of “The Sense of Time”, the exhibition features the mystery and appeal of time in the eyes of illustrators from across the world. At the exhibition, 110 groups of 300 works are presented in series, many of which are on public display for the first time.

Exhibition Dates:

Feb 12–Mar 30, 2023 (not closed on Mondays)

Venue:

Duoyunxuan Art Center (No. 1188 Tianyaoqiao Road)

“The Sense of Time” Original Illustration Exhibition of Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award (1st and 2nd Floors, Zone A)

Scenery of the Northland—Chinese Stories in the Eyes of Russian Illustrators (3rd Floor, Zone A)

Time:

10:00–17:00 (no entrance after 16:30)

Among the works, more than 200 were created by professional illustrators from over 30 countries including China, Russia, Korea, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, Sweden, the United States, Argentina, and Romania. These expressive and creative works in various forms convey from different perspectives how illustrators from different countries think about and interpret the theme “The Sense of Time”, inspiring thoughts about the future and bringing warmth and hope to real life.

There are also 50 excellent works created by young readers, whose inspiration comes from the 10 winning entries of last year’s Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award. Using expressive lines and bold colors, these children vividly portrayed their understanding of the award-winning works.

The exhibition has invited professional organizations such as Shanghai Artists Association and Shanghai Children’s Picture Book Research Center as partners, which helped expand the collection channels of works and enhance its professionalism.

In addition, several illustration-themed photo spots have been set up as an extension of the works. At those spots, fresh and elegant paper flowers keep changing as visitors approach.

The vivid and meaningful works explore the meaning of time by capturing and recording objects, scenes, people, and nature over time. Visitors can walk “into” those illustrations, preserve wonderful memories with their cameras, and embrace the beauty of time.

In the souvenir area, many creative cultural products including practical yet good-looking reading notebooks and colorful bags bring the illustrations into daily life and decorate our life with art.

In addition to the colorful illustrations, visitors can also feast their eyes on the previous winning entries of Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award at the exhibition, including the newly-named winners of the 34th session of the Award that make their first collective public appearance.

Scenery of the Northland—Chinese Stories in the Eyes of Russian Illustrators, a concurrent exhibition, showcases 112 original illustrations from picture books born out of collaboration between five Russian illustrators, namely Igor Oleynikov, Alexander Krylov, Svetlana Filippova, Nadezhda Boguslavskaya and Julia Gukova, and well-known Chinese authors published by Chinese publishing houses. The group exhibition of works by Russian illustrators, first of its kind in China, not only shows the Russian illustrators’ understanding and interpretation of excellent Chinese children’s literature and science books, but also reflects the fruitful collaboration and exchange in children’s literature publishing between China and Russia.

After Duoyunxuan Art Center, the illustration exhibition will go on tour to Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai Children’s Library, the new Shanghai Library East, Ningbo Library, and other public cultural venues in the Yangtze River Delta region to attract more visitors that love reading and illustrations. The artistic vitality of the exhibition will further expand the brand influence of Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award, nurture future illustrators, and add an artistic flare with a touch of childlike innocence to the cities.

Transportation

1. By car: Navigate to “Duoyunxuan Art Center (South Gate)”. The parking lot is located at No. 268 West Longhua Road.

2. By metro: Take Line 11/12, get off at Longhua Station, and walk or ride a shared bicycle to the venue.

3. By bus: Take bus 120, 144, 178, 56, 720, 770, 824, 956, 957, 41, 111, 87, 958, 714, 733, 932, 166, 167, 734, 933, or 809.