Hi! Picture this! Contemporary Illustration from Poland - events in Bologna accompanying programme

•  Contemporary Successes, Past Treasures. On Polish Children's Book Illustration from Past to Present. A lecture by Anita Wincencjusz-Patyna, PhD (Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław). Introduction by Enrico Fornaroli.

28 March 2025, 17:00, Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna – Aula Magna

The event, organized in collaboration with the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna and Hamelin as part of ABABO BOOM! by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, features a lecture enriched with extensive visual material and offers a comprehensive look at Polish children's book illustration.

It showcases the work of numerous artists, mainly graduates of Polish art academies, with selected new, award-winning publications analyzed within the context of Poland’s rich and longstanding graphic design tradition. This history begins with the avant-garde books of Franciszka and Stefan Themerson from the 1930s, continues through the 1950s to 1970s – known as the era of the Polish School of Illustration, during which around 400 artists were active in the field – and extends to the contemporary “golden age,” marked by the emergence of new talents each year, gaining international recognition.

• Workshop: Dove si gallo led by Anna Kaźmierak in collaboration with Dipartimento educativo MAMbo and Hamelin

29 March 2025, 16:00,  Dipartimento educativo MAMbo

The rooster is a ubiquitous motif in Polish folk culture. It can be found painted, embroidered, carved, woven, cut out, braided, and even shaped from sand. In her illustrated book, artist Anna Kaźmierak reimagines this beloved and traditional symbol, transforming it in a fresh, unconventional, and thought-provoking way. "Where Are You, Rooster?" is a workshop that invites children and their families on an immersive and magical journey through Polish folk traditions—vivid, imaginative, and emotionally engaging.

• A solo exhibition by Paweł Mildner, Sparkling Paweł, Otago Literary Agency.

2–11 April 2025, Opening: April 1, 19:00

In collaboration with Inuit and Otago Literary Agency;

Co-curator: Marco Tavarnesi

•  Workshop at Biblioteca Salaborsa Ragazzi led by: Gosia Herba, Festa a Villa Scintilla

2 April 2025, Biblioteca Salaborsa Ragazzi

A unique opportunity for children to step into the world of "Villa Scintilla", an illustrated book by Gosia Herba. During the workshop, participants will be able to explore the atmosphere and extraordinary characters of this story under the guidance of the author herself. After a shared reading of the book, children will be invited to draw inspiration from the illustrations and story of "Villa Scintilla". Through practical illustration exercises, each child will create their own artwork, learning simple and engaging artistic techniques. The author, with her distinctive style, will guide participants through the creative process. This workshop offers a space for expression and sharing creativity—and at the end, each child will take home their own illustration.