Andy Warhol once said that he never read, and instead only looked at the pictures. Although that’s not the best advice to give to children, or to anyone really, you have to admit that sometimes admiring picture books is preferable to reading, especially if your novel feels more like an encyclopaedia.
Growing up on Australian picture books has made me a little bit biased I’m sure, but I am a great fan of our local authors and illustrators and would recommend them to anybody, young and old. For those like me, wanting to reminisce about old titles or introduce them to a new audience, you’re in luck. For the first time the State Library of Victoria is bringing to Queensland the exhibition Look! The art of Australian picture books today, highlighting collections of artwork by more than forty great Australian illustrators.
With the authors including - but most definitely not limited to - Shaun Tan, Graeme Base, Bob Graham, Lucia Masciullo, Stella Danalis, Gregory Rodgers, Leigh Hobbs and Terry Denton you are sure to find enough visual material to fill your imagination with whatever you desire. As well as the extensive collection of artwork there are also plenty of activities for you to partake in whilst reliving your youth.
The exhibition runs for the next three months so there is no rush, however escaping into an air conditioned building to peruse the work of talented artists sounds very ideal to me, plus it’s free!