‘Drawing Words’: Children’s book illustration exhibition in the British Council

The British Council Cultural Centre is bringing ‘Drawing Words’, the exhibition ofchildren’s book illustration commissionedby the British Council and curated by theWaterstones UK Children’s Laureate,Lauren Child. The exhibition will be held at Dhaka and Chittagongor the young readers to explore a new world of joyful illustrations. The exhibition will open at the British Council Fuller Road office on 28 June and will continue till 11 July 2019. In Cox’s Bazaar, there will be a two days exhibition at the District Government Public Library on 29 and 30 June 2019.

Drawing Words exhibition features ten illustrators from across theUK whose work makes an important and original contribution to contemporary British picture book illustration.Some of the artists are established whoare developing their practice, and others are the beginning of their careers,pushing at the boundaries of the art form in new and ex-citing ways. The Cultural Centre brings “Wild”, illustrated by Emily Hughes for the exhibition. Emily herself will be inaugurating this exhibition on Friday, 28 June 2019. During her stay, she will have interactive sessions with students in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazaar as well.

Emily has shared her views on how her illustrations take shape. She shared, “The drawing sometimes aquestion or unfinished idea that dawns it.When this drawing has an urge to reveal itself assomething wider, it becomes independent of thedrawer. The words come after, only to explain when thedrawing alone cannot.”

The exhibition will be kept open from 10.00 AM to 07.00 PM daily at the British Council, Fuller Road premises from 28 June, 2019. The timing is same for the Cox’s Bazaar District Government Public Library exhibition on 29 and 30 June 2019. These exhibitions are free and open for all.

Drawing Words is inspired by Magic Pencil, a touringexhibition of children’s book illustration selected by thefirst UK Children’s Laureate Quentin Blake in 2002, whichalso included Lauren Child’s work in her early career.Drawing Words is an opportunity for us to look again atchildren’s picture book illustration and discover a newgeneration of books and artists.