'Hello! from Austraila' as part of the Nami Island International Children's Book Festival

Hello! from Australia
We are so thrilled to be able to report that the Hello! From Australia exhibition we first curated for the 2012 Bologna Book Fair has just opened it’s fourth showing in South Korea as part of the 6^th Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival from 25 April to 31 May 2013. The Nami Island committee have done a stunning job of adapting this exhibition to fit their venue.


Since this exhibition opening, we have been even more thrilled to hear that the National Library in Soul has received 20 requests for the exhibition and have asked if it can stay in South Korea for next 12 months to cater for at least 10 exhibitions in local cities!  Miss Hyo-jin Lee from the Australia-Korea Foundation, Australian Embassy Seoul, who we have been working with on this exhibition will meet with Tourism and State Offices on how to promote this and Australia to these host cities.

'Hello! from Australia' exhibition catalogue: Bologna Children's Book Fair 2013

View the 'Hello! from Australia' exhibition catalogue through the ISSUU link above. This catalogue includes the 29 selected books for the prestigious Australian Publishers Association exhibition at Bologna Children's Book Fair 2013.

Each picture book cover in the catalogue links to the relevant publisher's website, so click through for further details.

What is the "Hello! from Australia" exhibition?

The Australian Publishers Association (APA) is the peak industry body for Australian book, journal and electronic publishers. Established in 1948, the Association is an advocate for all Australian publishers: large or small; commercial or non-profit; academic or popular; locally or overseas owned. 

The APA’s initiatives at Bologna Children’s Book Fair aim to support publishers in the promotion and sale of rights to Australian children’s books and to facilitate contact between Australian publishers and international agents and promoters. In broader terms, we aim to promote Australian culture and literary culture internationally, and draw attention to and showcase the diversity and depth of Australian children’s books.

We are excited that the Australian Children’s Laureates (see page 10 of the catalogue) will be present at the stand and taking part in special events at the fair. Each year this Books Illustrated exhibition tours to other book festivals and fairs. In 2011 the exhibition toured to Paju Bookcity in South Korea.

In 2012 the exhibition toured to the Booksori Festival in Paju Bookcity, and in Seoul to the National Youth and Children’s Library, and in 2013 to the Korea Foundation Cultural Gallery.

In 2013 the exhibition will be exhibited at venues including the Capital Library Beijing, China, as part of the Beijing Writers Festival.

Faces from Australia - Korea Foundation Cultural Gallery Opening

Our relationship with the Australian Embassy and the Australia Korea Foundation has been facilitated by Ms Lee Hyo-Jin - Jinny. She has been and is always with our projects in Korea, so supportive and well organised. She has co-ordinated all three incarnations of this 'Hello! from Australia exhibition' - at Paju Booksori Festival; at the National Library for Children and Youth; and now, here at the Korea Foundation Cultural Centre Gallery. A beautiful space!

It is a totally new realisation of the work, our book illustration exhibition in collaboration with photographic works by Mr Lee Kyung-wook and jointly named, Faces of Australia. Our part is designed sensitively again by Mr Kim Dae-il, who designed the exhibition when it was at the Library. The photographic section handsomely curated by Ms Park. Young-Mi.

We were there for the set up, the opening and the first couple of days to carry out workshops and interviews with the media.

Setting up the exhibition

Completing the type!

Gallery opening ready for the official launch on Friday February 15

Ann J being interviewed for television report before the exhibition opening

Ann H & Ann J with Mr Kim and his wife and baby. Mr Kim was the designer of the 'Hello! from Australia' section of this joint exhibition 'Faces of Australia'.

His design was fabulous!

 Mr Lee's family at the opening

Workshops in the gallery

Ann James demonstrating her illustration style

Workshops at the gallery

'Hello! from Australia' exhibition... we're back from Korea!

'Hello! from Australia' exhibition includes 30 illustrations from recent Australian picture books and was put together as a promotional display for the Australian Publishers Stand at Bologna, 2012.

With support from the Australia Korea Foundation and the Australian Embassy in Korea it is having quite an extended life.  It toured on to be shown at the Paju Booksori Festival in Korea in October last year, and then to the National Library for Children and Youth in Seoul where it opened on November 29. 

We visited the exhibition on it's last day at the National Library, on February 13. It was specially curated for the space by designer Mr Kim Dae-Il and the Library director, Ms Wee. It was playful, busy and child-centred,  and we were impressed to hear it has had 6000 visitors! 

Ann Haddon gave a talk to over 100 librarians gathered from around Korea for an in-service seminar day at the National Library about the Australian Children's Book scene and Books Illustrated, and then we accompanied them to view the 'Hello! Australia Exhibition.'

See more photographs here....

'Hello! from Australia' exhibition at the National Library for Children & Young Adults

When we arrived in Korea we went straight to the 'Hello! from Australia' Books Illustrated and APA exhibition at the National Library for Children & Young Adults in Seoul. 

While we are here we will be taking it down and helping to install the exhibition at the Korea Cultural Foundation Gallery, Seoul.

We were thrilled to see new additions to the exhibition, which help bring the books to life for children and adults visiting.

Arriving at the exhibition. 

Beautiful banner.

A Bear and a Tree

Bath time comes to life! (Goodnight, Mice!)

A Bus Called Heaven

Australian memorabilia

A whole section on the Laureate (with Magpie sculpture included!)

Are We There Yet?'s famous map... with photos too.

Lots of books on display.