Guest of the ilb 2007
Nikolaus Heidelbach, author and
illustrator, was born in Lahnstein am Rhein in 1955. He studied German
language and literature, art history and theatre studies in Cologne and
Berlin. While still a student he made his literary début with an
illustrated work for adults and in 1982 published his first book for
children, »Das Elefantentreffen oder 5 dicke Angeber« (t: The elephant
reunion, or 5 fat show-offs). Since then, numerous illustrations for
short stories, poems and fairytales, plus schoolbooks, works for adults
and cover illustrations, including those for the well-known Artemis
Fowl novels, have appeared alongside picture books with his own texts.
Heidelbach is one of the most
acclaimed and quirky picture book artists in Germany. His images of
colourful sensuousness are fashioned from watercolors and richly
detailed fantasy that are captivating in their humour and subtlety.
Through atmospherically dense illustrations, the author depicts
everyday experiences and adventures in fantasy worlds. Heidelbach is
one of the few writers who focus on the mischievous behaviour and
enchanting cruelty of children. He has commented: »I learned from
Ungerer, Sendak and Gorey that there should be no limitations in
children’s literature… And filth, sassiness and brutality belong there
too.« The author has portrayed gender specific clichés in his ABC book
»Was machen die Mädchen?« (1993; Eng. »Where the Girls Are«, 1994). The
work, awarded the Bologna Ragazzi Award in 1995, was followed by the
1999 »Was machen die Jungs?« (t: Where the boys are).
Heidelbach tells the story of
an initiation that concludes with an exaltation of the act of reading
in »Ein Buch für Bruno« (1997; t: A book for Bruno): From the everyday
world of their living room Ulla and Bruno dive into a book adventure.
The pictures depict the flights of fancy – full of fear and relish – of
children who swing back and forth on a little reading ribbon, into and
out of a fantasy world – structured in dramatic sequences by
Heidelbach, who builds up horizontal, vertical and diagonal landscapes
without words.
After the artist had
illustrated »Märchen der Brüder Grimm« (1995; t: Fairytales of the
Brothers Grimm), which was celebrated by the »Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung« as »a life’s work«, he published his own outstanding
interpretation of the Danish writer’s fairytales on the occasion of the
Andersen jubilee in 2005.
Most recently, Heidelbach
presented »Königin Gisela« (2006; t: Queen Gisela), another picture
book penned by his own quill. Here the author artfully intertwines the
background story of a young girl who goes out to sea with her father
and each evening listens to the adventures of the Queen Gisela and the
following story-within-a-story: shipwrecked, Gisela finds herself
stranded on an island. Eight meerkats pamper her in every possible way
yet she quickly grows bored. When the little despot attempts to get
herself crowned as queen the cute animals try to get rid of their
unsavoury guest. »Never before has Heidelbach produced such a complex
narrative network«, raved »Die Zeit« concerning his sophisticated
theatrical prowess and ingenious composition using two-page images and
vignettes accompanied by narrative and dialogue. The illustrated book
has been nominated for the 2007 German Youth Literature Prize.
Heidelbach has received, among
other distinctions, Troisdorf's Picture Book Prize (1981) and the
exceptional award of the German Youth Literature Prize (2000). He lives
in Cologne with his family.
© international literature festival berlin
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