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Amaury Laporte On Massive NYC European Graphic Novel Celebration (PR)
posted November 3, 2008
 

New York, Thursday, October 30, 2008 -- To mark its fifth anniversary in style and with a dash of fun, the New Literature from Europe series will celebrate an emblematic European form of literature and art this year: the graphic novel. The Graphic Novels from Europe festival will take place from November 17-21 with seven of Europe's most famous contemporary graphic novelists (David B., Nicolas de Crecy, Igort, Jaromir 99, Isabel Kreitz, Max and Jaroslav Rudis), who will participate in a series of free events throughout New York city. The five-day festival will include discussions, book signings and an exhibit of 60 panels at the French Cultural Services (please find the full list of events in the table below). Several venues will be involved, including the just renovated Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) and the School of Visual Arts.

Every year since 2004, the cultural institutions of the Czech Republic (Czech Center New York), France (The Cultural Services of the French Embassy), Germany (Goethe-Institut New York), Italy (Istituto Italiano di Cultura) and Spain (Instituto Cervantes) come together to celebrate European literature through a common prism. This year they chose to focus on graphic novels, which have always attracted a wide, devoted readership in Europe and are increasingly being recognized as a genuine form of literature in the United States as well. Previously relegated to the children's sections in bookshops, graphic novels are now earning critical praise for their original, though-provoking take on weighty issues such as the Holocaust (Maus) and the Islamic Revolution in Iran (Persepolis). At the intersection of art and literature, graphic novels are also fascinating works of visual art, with powerful imagery that plays a key role in their story-telling.

The festival, though far from exhaustive, will nevertheless present a wide-ranging panorama of contemporary European creation. Indeed, the works of the seven selected graphic novelists vary enormously in style and subject manner, from the hyper-realist to the cartoonish, giving a taste of just how rich and diverse the European graphic novel scene is. Original works from all seven artists -- 10 panels from each -- will be on display at the French Cultural Services from November 19 to December 12 during a free exhibit (open weekdays, 1-5pm). France is also hosting this exhibit to mark its current presidency of the European Union.

Jaromir Svejdik (aka Jaromir 99) and Jaroslav Rudis of the Czech Republic are without a doubt the country's most celebrated team of graphic novelists. Rudis, a writer, collaborated with Jaromir 99, an artist and writer, to produce the most successful Czech graphic novel ever, Alois Nebel. A fascinating railway trilogy, it unfolds over three levels: the tortuous history of the 20th century provides the background for the story of Alois Nebel, a former railway employee gone mad, and for the crimes of a Polish murderer (the three threads come together to form a complex plot).

France's David B. and Nicolas De Crecy both tell dreamlike stories, but with very different styles. David B.'s generally monochromatic drawings are sharply defined visions of imaginary worlds, bringing to mind forbidding dreamscapes. His latest album, Nocturnal Conspiracies, a collection of short stories inspired by his dreams (and nightmares!) will come out in the U.S. this December. Nicolas de Crecy has a softer touch, with his Glacial Period album, for instance, suggesting colorful charcoal drawings. Available in the U.S., Glacial Period tells the story of archeologists 1,000 years from now as they discover the remains of the Louvre Museum and begin theorizing about what kind of civilization built such an institution.

Isabel Kreitz is one of Germany's leading graphic novelists (she was awarded the prestigious Sondermann Prize at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair). As well as being an award-winning illustrator, she has published a variety of graphic novels, both original works and literary adaptations. Her major works reveal diverse styles: the Ralf quartette, depicting the underground life of mutilated subway surfers in Hamburg, mixes realistic images with distorted elements. Meanwhile, Die Sache mit Sorge, which features a German agent working for Stalin in Japan during World War 2, gives great attention to the minute details of life in 1940s Tokyo, which are rendered in clean lines in a traditional manner.

Igort is very well-known in his native Italy, and his reputation is becoming global. Indeed, his stories themselves are very international, ranging from Japan to North and South America, all the while remaining deeply Italian in character. Full of elegant intelligence, his works are deceptively simple. His latest album, Five is the Perfect Number has just come out in the U.S. It is the captivating story of Peppino, a retired mafia hitman, who comes out of retirement to avenge the death of his son, killed by a rival gang. The ambitious series Baobab, also translated into English, is initially set in Japan at the turn of the 19th century, when a small, sickly, orphaned boy on the outskirts of Tokyo grows up hearing the stories his grandmother tells of her youth as the daughter of a Navy officer.

It is difficult to pin down Francesc Capdevila Gisbert's style, as he masters several. But in any case, Max (his nom de plume) seems to have a special fondness for surrealism, and his album Bardin the Superrealist (released in English in 2006) clearly takes inspiration from Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali. In this award-winning series of stories, musings and gags, Bardin examines and questions his beliefs while he is confronted with surrealism and absurd humor.


DATE
EVENT
LOCATION

November 17
6pm
Discussion with Igort about his book 5 is the Perfect Number and exhibition of his work: Baobab.
RSVP required: 212 879 4242 ext. 375
Istituto Italiano di Cultura
686 Park Avenue, New York, NY
Tel: (212) 879 4242 ext. 375
www.iicnewyork.esteri.it/IIC_Newyork

November 19 –December 12
9am – 5pm
weekdays
Exhibition of works by all the authors: Graphic Novels from Europe
Cultural Services of the French Embassy
972 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Tel: (212) 439 1400
www.frenchculture.org

November 19
6:30pm
Discussion with all the authors, moderated by David Mazzucchelli (School of Visual Arts)
School of Visual Arts
209 East 23 Street, New York, NY
Tel: (212) 592 2000
www.sva.edu

November 20
6:30pm
Presentations and book signings with all the authors.
MoCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art)
594 Broadway, Suite 401, New York,
Tel: (212) 254 3511
www.moccany.org

November 21
4pm
Discussion with Nicolas de Crecy
Maison française / NYU
16 Washington Mews, New York, NY
Tel: (212) 998 8750
www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/french/Maison.html

November 21 – December 19
12pm-7pm
Tues-Saturday
Exhibition of the two Czech authors Alois Nebel–My Life
Prague Kolektiv
143 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY
Tel: (718) 260 8013
www.praguekolektiv.com

Please note that all the events are free.

High Resolution Images (for press use):

http://www.frenchculture.org/PR/Graphic-Novels/Graphic-Novels-from-Europe-Pictures.zip

For more information:

Czech Republic www.czechcenter.com
France: www.frenchculture.org
Germany: www.goethe.de/ins/us/ney/deindex.htm
Italy: www.iicnewyork.esteri.it/IIC_Newyork
Spain: nuevayork.cervantes.es

Program Director, Fiction:

Mathilde Billaud

[email protected]

(212) 439 1447


Press Attache:

Amaury Laporte

[email protected]

(212) 439 1417

ABOUT THE AUTHORS AND ARTISTS

CZECH ARTIST/AUTHORS

JAROMIR SVEJDIK aka JAROMIR 99

Illustrator, musician and writer Jaromir Svejdik, aka Jaromir 99, was born in 1963. He is co-author with Jaroslav Rudis of the graphic novel trilogy, Alois Nebel, and author of the graphic novel, Bomber (2007). Svejdik created storyboards for the hugely successful Czech films, Samotari [Loners] (2000) and Jedna ruka netleska [One Hand Can't Clap] (2003) and for the US produced The Prince and Me (2004). Currently he is working on an animated film based on Alois Nebel. Jaromir 99 is singer with and lyricist for the Czech rock band Priessnitz and collaborator on the music project, Umakart.

JAROSLAV RUDIS

Born in 1972, Czech writer, journalist, lyricist, musician and collector of old train timetables and railway maps Jaroslav Rudis became known with his debut novel, Nebe pod Berlinem [The Sky under Berlin] (2002). This tale of a Czech teacher who leaves his job to start a new life in Berlin, where he plays music in the underground (a semi-autobiographical motif) became one of the most successful Czech books of recent years. The Czech film, Grandhotel was based on his novel Grandhotel (2006). His collaboration with Jaromir 99 led to the publication of the graphic novel railway trilogy, Alois Nebel.

Bibliography:

-Bomber, Labyrint (2007)

-Alois Nebel trilogy–concept and story by Jaroslav Rudiš, concept and illustration by Jaromir 99, Labyrint (2005)

-Zlate hory [Gold Mountains], in Czech, Polish, Labyrint (2005)

-Hlavni nadrazi [Central Station], in Czech, Polish, Labyrint (2004)

-Bily potok /White Brook, in Czech, Polish, English, Labyrint (2003)



Web:

Alois Nebel website:

http://www.aloisnebel.com/english/




FRENCH ARTISTS


NICOLAS DE CRECY

Born in 1966, Nicolas De Crecy studied comics at the art school of Angouleme. While he was working for animation studios, including the French Walt Disney Studios, his first album, a highly acclaimed book, Foligatto, scripted by artist Alexios Tjoyas, appeared, followed by the publication of Le Bibendum celeste, an experimental and innovative work, the first volume of a trilogy. With the texts of Sylvain Chomet, he then

created Leon-la-Came, and Laid, Pauvre et Malade, which was awarded "Best Album" by the Angouleme Festival in 1998. With the animation piece La Vieille Dame et les Pigeons, De Crecy began to explor the diverse ways of telling a story through images: illustrations for youth books (Le Roi de la piste, La Nuit du grand mechant loup, etc.), travel notebooks, illustrated personal texts (New York sur Loire, Des gens bizarres, Cafes moulus), and press illustrations (for Liberation, The New Yorker). He has continued to write and draw comics: Super Monsieur Fruit, Prosopopus, Salvatore, and Periode glaciaire, which was translated into English. In the beginning of 2007, still with the publisher Futuropolis, he published Journal d'un fantôme, the autobiography of a drawing.

Bibliography:

- L'Orgue de barbarie, Editions Futuropolis (2007)

- Periode glaciaire, notes et croquis, Editions Bdartiste (2007)

- Journal d'un fantome, Editions Futuropolis (2006)

- Salvatore, le grand depart, Editions Dupuis (2006)

- Japon (collective work), Editions Casterman (2005)

- Periode glaciaire, co-editions le Louvre – Futuropolis (2005)

- De la confiture de myrtilles, Edition 9e monde (Sept 2005)

- New York sur Loire, Editions Casterman (2005)

- Salvatore , transports amoureux, Editions Dupuis (2005)

- Des Gens bizarres, Editions Cornelius (2004)

- Cafes moulus, Editions Verticales (2004)

- La Bande dessinee part en voyage (collective work with 6 authors), co-edition Geo – Casterman (2003)

- Prosopopus, Editions Dupuis (2003)

- Monographie, Editions de l'an 2 (2003)

- Lisbonne, voyage imaginaire (text by Raphael Meltz), Editions Casterman (2002)

- Le Bibendum celeste, Vol. 3 Les Humanoides associes (2002)

- Le Roi de la piste, editions PMJ (2001)

- Plaisir de myope, Editions Cornelius (1999)

- Le Bibendum celeste, Vol. 2, Les Humanoides associes (1999)

- La Nuit du grand mechant loup (text by Rascal), Editions pastel (Ecole des loisirs) (1998)

- Priez pour nous, Editions Casterman (1998)

- Laid, pauvre et malade (script Sylvain Chomet), Editions Casterman (1997)

- Monsieur Fruit, Vol. 1 and 2, Editions Seuil jeunesse (1995, 1996)

- Leon la Came (script. Sylvain Chomet), Editions Casterman (1995)

- Le Bibendum celeste, Vol. 1, Les Humanoides associes (1994)

- Foligatto (script. Alexios Tjoyas), Editions Les Humanoides associes (1991)



Titles translated into English

- Glacial Period, ComicsLit (2007)



DAVID B.



David B. (Pierre-François Beauchard) was born on February 9, 1959 in Nimes, France. He studied Fine Art in Paris at l'ecole Duperre. His first graphic novel (comic album in France) was published in 1986 by Bayard in 1986. During this time he was a regular contributor to the magazine "Okapi et Chic" and he serialized a story in the seminal French comics magazine, "A Suivre." Since then, he has worked with virtually every major publisher in French comics. In 1990 he co-founded the important French comic publisher L'Association along with fellow cartoonists Jean-Christophe Menu, Stanislas, Mattt Konture, Killoffer and Lewis Trondheim. By 1996 what is considered David B.'s major work to date, L'Ascension du Haut Mal (Epileptic), was published. The story, recounting his childhood with his epileptic brother, will be published by Pantheon in early 2005 as Epileptic. In 1998, he was cited as European Cartoonist of the Year by The Comics Journal. He lives in France.



Bibliography

- Terre de feu, avec Micol (drawing), Futuropolis (2008)

- Par les chemins noirs, Futuropolis (2007)

- The Comics Journal #275 (sit in on a conversation with David B.), Fantagraphics (2006)

- Les Complots nocturnes, Futuropolis (2005)

- Les Chercheurs de tresors, Vol. 1 and 2, Dargaud (2003-2004)

- La Lecture des ruines, Dupuis, series " Aire Libre " (2001)

- Le Capitaine Ecarlate (script) with Emmanuel Guibert (drawing), Dupuis, series " Aire Libre" (2000).

- Les Incidents de la nuit, Vol. 1 to 3, L'Association, series " Mimolette" (1999-2002)

- Maman a des problemes (drawing) with Anne Baraou (script), L'Association, series "Patte de mouche" (1999)

- Siwa, in L'Association en egypte, L'Association, series " eperluette " (1998)

- Le Tengû carre, Dargaud, series " Roman BD " (1997)

- L'Ascension du Haut Mal, Vol. 1 to 6, L'Association, series " eperluette " (1997-2003)

- Le Nain jaune, Vol. 1 to 3, Cornelius (1993-1994)

- David B. 2000, L'Association, series " Patte de mouche " (1991)

- La Bombe familiale, L'Association, series " Patte de Mouche " (1991)

- Pas de samba pour Capitaine Tonnerre (script) with Legan (drawing), Glenat (1985)



Titles translated into English

- Nocturnal Conspiracies: Nineteen Dreams, ComicsLit (2008).

- Babel Vol 2, Fantagraphics (2006)

- Babel Vol 1, Drawn and quarterly (2004)

- L'Ascension du Haut Mal, Epileptic, fantagraphics (2002) and complete series by Pantheon (2006)







GERMAN AUTHOR


ISABEL KREITZ



Isabel Kreitz, born in 1967, studied at the College for Design in Hamburg and at the Parsons School of Design in New York, where she learned "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" with Ken Landgraf. In 1997, she was named "Germany's best comic artist" at the International Comic Festival in Hamburg. Beginning in 1994, Zwerchfell Verlag published her series featuring injured Hamburg subway surfer, Ralf: Schlechte Laune, Totenstill and Gier. These titles were followed by, among others, graphic novel versions of works by Uwe Timm and Erich Kaestner. Her latest title, Die Sache mit Sorge [The Sorge case], featuring a German agent working for Stalin in Tokyo during the Third Reich, appeared in April 2008 from Carlsen Verlag.



Bibliography

-Die Sache mit Sorge, Carlsen (2008)

-Sushi entdecken, Carlsen (2004)

-Gier (Ralf #4), Zwerchfell Verlag (2003)

-Totenstill (Ralf #3), Zwerchfell Verlag (1997)

-Die Entdeckung der Currywurst, Carlsen (1996)

-Ralf Lebt! (Ralf #2), Zwerchfell Verlag (1995)

-Schlechte Laune (Ralf #1), Zwerchfell Verlag (1994)



Web:

http://www.goethe.de/kue/lit/prj/com/cgp/cgk/enindex.htm

http://www.carlsen.de/web/graphicnovel/sorge_special

http://lambiek.net/artists/k/kreitz_isabel.htm

http://www.zwerchfell.de/root/comics/specials/gier/giertrailer.html (trailer for Gier)



ITALIAN AUTHOR



IGORT (IGOR TUVERI)



Born in Cagliari in 1958, Igort has worked for nearly 30 years as an author of comic books and as an illustrator. His works have been published in some 15 countries throughout Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania and have won numerous international awards. He has collaborated on multimedia and theater projects with musicians such as Yello and Ryuichi Sakamoto, and has released seven albums as a musician and composer.

Igort also writes for the movies, and several movie projects based on his books are currently under way. For many years he has written for radio shows and conducted programs on Radio RAI 2 and Radio Popolare Network.

Eight years ago, he started Coconino Press, a publishing house that specializes in graphic novels and has nearly 200 titles in print.

Igort currently resides in Paris, where he is writing a serial novel.



Awards

-Book of the Year Award, Naples comic Festival. Comicon 2006 for Fats Waller

-International Event of the Year Award, Festival di Treviso 2005 (fumetti in TV) for Fats Waller

-lo straniero Award, Negroamaro Festival (Lecce) 2004

-Jazz Book of the Year Award 2006 for Fats Waller, Swing a Xirocourt Jazz Festival 2004

-Book of Year Award, Frankfurt Book Fair 2003 for 5 is the Perfect Number

-Coccobill Award, Best Author 2003 (Milano comics festival Cartoomics)

-Special Award A.N.A.F.I. 2003 (Associazione Nazionale Amici Fumetto Italiano)

-Grand Prix for 5 is the Perfect Number, Romics comic festival (Rome 2003)

-Pulcinella Award, Naples comic festival (2002)



Bibliography

-Dimmi che non vuoi morire, Massimo (script) and Igort (design), Mondadori (2007)

-Storyteller. Appunti di viaggio nel mare del racconto, Coconino Press (2007)

-Cinque e il numero perfetto, Rizzoli (2006)

-Baobab, Vol 1, 2 and 3, Coconino Press (2005, 2006 and 2007)

Titles translated into English

-BAOBAB, Vol 1, 2 and 3, Fantagraphics (2005, 2006 and 2008),

-Five is the Perfect Number, Drawn and Quarterly (2003)

SPANISH AUTHOR

FRANCESC CAPDEVILA GISBERT (aka MAX)

Catalan author and illustrator Francesc Capdevila Gisbert (aka Max), was born in Barcelona in 1956. Max founded and co-edits the semi-annual avant-garde anthology, MSLM, in addition to being credited with developing the mascot for the F.C. Barcelona soccer club.

Max's Bardin the Superrealist takes his cues from surrealism, Herge and Chris Ware and was awarded 2007 National Comics Award by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.

Bibliography

-El prolongado sueño del señor T, La Cúpula (1998)

-El beso secreto, La Cúpula (1987)

Titles translated into English

-Bardin the Superrealist, Fantagraphics (2006)

-The Extended Dream of Mr. D, Drawn and Quarterly (2000)

Web:

http://lambiek.net/artists/m/max.htm

http://www.maxbardin.com/

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING:



David B.

"The stunning two-color artwork evokes an extraordinary range of influences, from the boldness of primitive art to the lyricism of Winsor McCay." -- Fantagraphics Books

"There's no one quite like David B. working in comics today, especially in the field of memoir/autobiography. For him, dreams and real life combine to form something altogether new, and the reader is rewarded with a peek into a dense imagination." -- Sequart, Rob Clough, High-Low #80 (Sept 1st 2007)

"David B is one of the greatest cartoonists in the world. [He] is obsessed with the intersection between magic, religion and war, and his feverish imagery is perfectly realized." -- Sequart, Rob Clough, High-Low #24 (Aug 19th 2006)

Nicolas de Crecy

"De Crecy is a gifted storyteller whose eye for body language and ear for a funny line never fails him. He deftly combines art history, science fiction and simple philosophizing in a short but very sweet tale." -- Publishers Weekly

"A maverick graphic artist and a graduate of Angouleme's art school and the Disney factory, Nicolas de Crecy is one of the few graphic novelists today who has managed to invent his own idiosyncratic style and universe" -- Le Point (17/01/2007, n°1729)

Igort

"Moody, mysterious, and cinematic... Igort is one of Italy's great cartoonists" ­ -- Adrian Tomine

"Graphically beautiful, stunningly paced - each panel is a well observed moment frozen in time. Igort focuses the eye of a master craftsman and sensitive artist on his subjects" -- Seth [Five is the Perfect Number]

"Igort is creating a true masterwork with this series... It's work that's both personal and experimental, a melding of interests in a sweeping, mysterious and ambitious narrative. When this is eventually collected and published, it will make a huge splash in the publishing world. Until that time, we as readers will be lucky enough to enjoy the extra decorative elements in each beautiful issue." – Sequart [Baobab]

Jaromir 99 (Svejdik) and Jaroslav Rudis

This has all the right ingredients for overgrown 'boys'; it's mysterious, romantic and sexy (... ) Svejdik combines stark (often autobiographical) detail with an abstract lyrical quality.' (Hospodarske Noviny – daily newspaper)

Isabel Kreitz - Die Sache mit Sorge

"Richard Sorge was an extraordinary figure, as if created for a spellbinding spy comic. But Hamburg artist Isabel Kreitz has chosen a different, cleverer and more interesting path for her graphic novel….The explicitly dense atmosphere created in her detailed pencil drawings will transport you to a long-ago era in a faraway place, and make you think about why the story of Richard Sorge remains so strange and fascinating." -- Frankfurter Rundschau Online

Rather than getting bogged down in historical details, she reconstructs in soft pencil the Tokyo of the early 1940s... . Kreitz creates a panopticon of the historical situation... Her perspective allows for a nuanced portrait of an ill-fated agent... nuance [that] can be found in the best spy novels, but rarely in German comics." -- Spiegel Online

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