Exhibition of Italian children's book illustrators open in Auckland

The Illustrators for Gianni Rodari exhibition is now on in Auckland. 

From today until Sunday 25 September, drop in between 10.00 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Oratia Books team joined a preview event last night, along with guests from the local Italian and publishing communities.

The Oratia crew with Lindsey Jones (third from right), Honorary Consul for Italy, Auckland. From left: Belinda Cooke (sales & marketing consultant), Frances Chan (editor), Peter Dowling (publisher), Alessandra Zecchini (media director), Lindsey Jones, Carolyn Lagahetau (editorial director), Ross Kinnaird (illustrator)

Brought together to mark the centenary of the birth of the great Italian children's writer Gianni Rodari, the exhibition showcases illustrations from 21 leading artists who have illustrated his books.

Professor Bruno Ferraro (left) will join a presentation about Rodari on Sunday 18 October

A selection of the Rodari books on display from Edizione E/L, Italy

Congratulations to exhibition curator Nicoletta Benella, and all who have made the exhibition possible.

Tomorrow morning (18 October) at 9.30 a.m., Nicoletta will join Professor Bruno Ferraro in a discussion about Rodari's life and work, and the artists who have accompanied him.

Our thanks to NEWMARKET and the Dante Alighieri Society of Auckland for hosting the preview, including some tasty piadine and San Pellegrino soft drinks.

For more about this unique exhibition, click on this link. Ci vediamo lì!

Cream of Italian children's book illustrators to go on show in Auckland

llustrators for Gianni Rodari – Italian Excellence

Free entry

17 – 25 Oct 2020, 10am – 4pm daily

Newmarket Station Studio, 1 Newmarket Station Square, Auckland

A prestigious and colourful exhibition of Italian children’s book illustrators will open on 17 October in Newmarket for Artweek Auckland and the Italian Language Week in the World.

Oratia Books is proud to be among the sponsors for the exhibition, which will coordinate with the Italian Festival Season 2020 (organised by our Media Director, Alessandra Zecchini). 

 

Travelling to New Zealand after launches in Bologna and San Francisco, Illustrators for Gianna Rodari will appeal to kids and adults alike. From a nation synonymous with art and style come these vibrant works brought together to celebrate the great children’s author Gianni Rodari on the centenary of his birth. 

 

Rodari, who bears comparison with Margaret Mahy, was the first Italian writer to receive the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, in 1970 (Mahy also received this ‘Nobel Prize of children’s literature’, in 2006). Rodari’s work includes fairy stories, nursery rhymes, short stories and novels, as well as his famous essay The Grammar of Fantasy.

Gianni Rodari with young fans (credit: RaiPlay Radio)

Rodari’s work has been translated and reprinted the world over and remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for numerous Italian illustrators, who down the years have put his words into pictures (see more at https://100giannirodari.com/en/). 

 

This exhibition showcases some of those artists who in the last fifty years have illustrated Rodari’s texts. From legends like Luzzati and Munari through to young contemporary artists, this exhibition gives a fascinating overview of Italian illustration excellence.

 

Featured artists: Bruno Munari, Emanuele Luzzati, Altan, Beatrice Alemagna, Gaia Stella, Olimpia Zagnoli, Manuel Fior, Alessandro Sanna, Valerio Vitali, Simona Mulazzani, Chiara Armellini, Anna Laura Cantone, Fulvio Testa, Maria Chiara Di Giorgio, Giulia Orecchia, Nicoletta Costa, Federico Maggioni, Francesca Ghermandi, Pia Valentinis, Vittoria Facchini, Elenia Beretta.

 

Organised internationally by: Fiera di Bologna, BCBF, Regione E-R, Regione E-R Cultura d’Europa, Einaudi Ragazzi, Vivere all’Italiana (MAECI).

Auckland edition in collaboration with: Italian Embassy in New Zealand, Dante Alighieri Society Auckland, Festival Italiano Auckland, Oratia Books, NEWMARKET.

 

Part of the Artweek Auckland 2020 Programme and the Italian Festival Season in Auckland

 

For more information contact: Alessandra Zecchini

  Tel.: 027 393 7821  mailto:alessandra@oratia.co.nz