Bologna Oh Bologna Notes #16 - Illustrators of Indonesia, this one is for you!

Bologna Oh Bologna Notes #16 - Illustrators of Indonesia, this one is for you!

This entry is especially written for my partners in crime: The illustrators of Indonesia and is posted here:

http://ilustratorindonesia.wix.com/direktori#!A-Love-Letter-from-Bologna-Childrens-Book-Fair-2015/ccrq/55200d150cf21d84af793cbc

Bologna Children’s Book Fair is truly a heaven for you. Over there, you can showcase your works in many ways.

First, you can submit your work beforehand and if they are selected, they will be showcased and you will get free entrance ticket to the fair. Second, you can post your work on the “Leave your post here” walls at the main area of the fair. There are many such walls. I got the chance to post works of EorG, Herlina, Aaron Randy and Benson on those walls before the fair started. (With an Exhibitor badge, courtesy of the Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, I could go into the area one day before the fair starts and early every day even before the fair opens). The wall was still empty when I posted the works, but by the end of first day, the walls were overflowing with all the great illustrations. I got the chance to bring back some as well. Third, you can also walked from booth to booth to see if you can show your work to the editors that were in the booth. There were 1200 exhibitors which means that there are at least 1200 editors at the fair. Not all editors will have time to see your work because they already had appointments beforehand and thus were quite busy hopping from one meeting to the next. But then you don’t need to show your work to all 1200 editors, right? There will be a few who would be willing to look at your work. And one thing always led to others.

After staying in the fair for a total of 30 hours or so, I fell more and more in love with …. you (illustrators:)). You are the ones who made children books children books.  Writers write the books but you make them happen.  And also I’m so totally amazed on how each of you have your own style. I guess each of your style is determined by each of your unique finger print. Some have the chubby colorful childlike style. Some others have the whimsical and dreamlike style. Some have thin pen strokes that look more complicated that rocket science, some show simplicity that touches the core of our being. And some others can’t even be described as if my vocabularies as an author are not enough. No two are alike. Over the years, each of you will develop your style and you will definitely be influenced by other illustrators all over the world. But remember, you have your own finger print and at the end of the day, that is what you can truly call your own.

Many publishers came to visit our booth and took a look at my books. I put the word look in bold because that was exactly what they did. They didn’t have time to read it in such a short period of time. So during those time, they were not reading me, they were looking at YOU! And when some of them expressed their interests (like reported in detik.com), it was because of you. Thank you.

I recently read several dystopian novels (Divergent trilogy, The Giver quartet, Matched trilogy), all of which portrayed a society in which freedom has been traded for perfect security.  In those societies at that time, there is a rule for everything. They tell you what to eat, what to do, whom to marry. There is simply no freedom of expression. And when I look at all of your works, I felt so relieved that those novels are just novels. Because I simply can’t imagine a world where there are only 100 paintings or 100 books. My eyes will always seek for more. My heart will always yearn for more.

So my dear illustrators, you should never take for granted the talent that has been entrusted to you. And you should never take for granted the fact that you have the opportunity to create. Sure you may feel that your environment is not always perfect, but hey, the world is not perfect. But despite its imperfections, if you keep looking, you will find a place that is perfect for you.

As for now, as you continue to work magic with your hands, printing each of your finger prints on your work, I’m sending all of you a hug. This is a hug of thank you for being you and for doing what you do. And also this is a hug of hope for I see a bright and colorful world out there waiting for you. Go find your place and start coloring the world for the children.

Arleen