Patricia Geis was invited by the China Shanghai International Children Book Fair. This year for the first time, the CCBF casted light on a specific theme. In its 7th edition, the Fair focused on art, architecture and design in children’s books.
Patricia Geis was invited as guest speaker in the fair’s professional programme due to her great contribution to the artistic field with What an Artist! series. On November 15th took place the seminar: “Where the Beautiful Things Are—Art, Architecture and Design in Contemporary Children’s Books” at the Illustrators Survival Corner. The discussion was moderated by Maria Russo, Children’s Books Editor of The New York Times (USA).
Patricia Geis shared panel discussion with specialised publishers, other content creators, artists and cultural institutions who have contributed to connecting picture books to art education. The speakers were: Claire de Cointet, Editorial Director of Éditions du Centre Pompidou (France); Grazia Gotti, President of Giannino Stoppani Cooperativa Sociale (Italy); Kiyoko Matsuoka, Associate Director of the Itabashi Art Museum (Japan); Roger Thorp, Editorial Director of Thames & Hudson (UK); Page Tsou. Illustrator and Art Director of Auspicious Design (China) and Zeng Zirong, author and Director of CITIC Art Museum from CITIC Press Group in China.
Besides, “What an Artist!” series books were also featured in the Children’s+ special exhibition that was presented at the fair before touring around other Chinese cities.
On the same dates, Beijing Green Beans, the publisher of the Simplified Chinese edition of the series, launched Leonardo da Vinci and organized some workshops in Shanghai. Combel also attended the fair and introduced The Sun & the Planets Pop-Up Book, Patricia Geis’ latest title, which aroused a great interest among the Chinese publishers.
