From the moment I walked through its other-worldly doors
Look! The art of Australian picture books today was a magical experience.
gallery.slv.vic.gov.au/look
I was one of those children who would happily spend hours curled up in an old bean-bag, devouring book after book. At that age, my book choices were largely based on which ones had the best pictures and for good reason too. A drawing of a mouse wearing an apron and a hat can bring a story to life in an instant. So, when I wandered into the State Library of Queensland last week, I was fairly certain that I was going to enjoy my trip back to those bean-bag days.
The Look! exhibition, which is running in SLQ until March 4th, features the artwork and drawings of over 40 Australian illustrators, including Terry Denton, Shaun Tan and Leigh Hobbs. The exhibition is designed to be enjoyed by visitors of any age and it's the little details that make it really special.
The illustrations are beautifully showcased on the walls with notes that are clear and easy for children to understand. There are also tiny wooden bridges dotted around, so that children can get a bit of extra height to peer at the books on display. Then there are floor mats that look like soft grass, delicately stencilled paintings on the walls and a giant red arm-chair that's fit for a storyteller. It felt and looked, like a little dream-land.
Anna Walker, illustration from Little Cat and the Big Red Bus,
text by Jane Godwin, Viking, 2008
www.slq.qld.gov.au
There is also an interactive area with touch screens, where children are able to create their own illustrations. I was too busy making pictures out of pieces of cloth to investigate that further, but others were making the most of it. Before I left the exhibition, I decided to clamber through a miniature doorway into the 'Reading Caravan' and found myself in the cosiest spot. The shelves were lined with picture books and between the soft lighting and the comfortable chairs, I could have spent the day there.
Ron Brooks, illustration from Fox,
text by Margaret Wild, Allen & Unwin, 2000
www.slq.qld.gov.au
This is definitely an exhibition worth seeing. It's a chance for both children and adults to look at books in a different way and it's celebrating an impressive array of Australian artwork. The State Library is also running a programme of activities to complement the exhibition but these really are just for the children. Otherwise, I'd probably be first in line for the storytelling session.
