International speakers and Kenji Oikawa will share their personal cross-domain creative experiences in the lectures and workshops of the 2023 International Picture Book Salon.

The biennial “International Picture Book Salon” forum opens now. This year, the Kaohsiung Public Library’s (KPL) International Picture Book Center (IPBC) features the forum on the topic of “Tomorrow’s Picture Books,” overturning the notion that picture books are merely 2-dimensional graphics. The forum embarks on
cross-domain collaborations, unique presentations, and the fusion of different materials. In addition, it extends Intellectual Property (IP) to stage plays and movies. The forum introduces Readers to the new face of future picture books. KPL has specially invited renowned Japanese graphic artist and illustrator Kenji Oikawa (also known as及川賢治) to team up with Taiwanese cross-domain experts in the picture book industry. Three major categories of events, including the “International Picture Book Salon,” thematic exhibitions, and a series of 14 events, lead the participants into the world of cross-domain picture books and their exciting future.

Director Wang, Wen-Tsui (王文翠) of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government, stated that creating and promoting picture books require collaboration among professionals from various fields. Authors have limited opportunities for showcasing their creation of picture books. More people can meet and appreciate the finished products through cross-domain collaborations, IP extension works, and diverse promotion methods. KPL continues to lead us to follow the international picture book trend by organizing diverse open events to explore the future of the visual language. International Picture Book Salon invited not only Kenji Oikawa, a Japanese author with rich cross-domain creative experiences but also a well-known cultural brand manager from home to share 20-plus years of experience in transforming the IP of Jimmy Liao’s picture books with the participants. The Salon certainly would provide authors of this new generation with insights into cross-domain collaboration. 

According to Acting Director of KPL, Lin Yi-Cheng (林奕成), the picture book art special exhibition works with the National Development Council this time, and it offers bilingual services to promote picture book reading. The exhibition presents diverse features by showcasing the picture books in their source languages and Chinese translation versions. The International Picture Book Salon this year features cross-domain collaboration and names this year’s event "Tomorrow's Picture Books - The Cross-Domain Perspectives on Picture Books" (明日的繪本-跨領域浪潮下的繪本觀). Three thematic lectures and one parent-child workshop will be held on Sep. 16 and 17. Kenji Oikawa, the founder of the famous Japanese illustration brand 100% ORANGE, will share his insights during the event. Together with local Taiwanese picture book authors Mia(米雅), the promotion representative of Jimmy Liao’s picture books, Li, Yu-Shan(李雨珊), and the representative of PlayGround D, who has been working on the promotion of picture books, Lai Jia-Ling (賴嘉綾), the Salon explores contemporary perspectives on picture books. Early Bird tickets for the event are available. A co-branded book bag of Kenji Oikawa and the IPBC will be gifted to package ticket purchasers.

100%ORANGE was invited to create Hermès' first picture book last year. It applied the theme, " A Needle and Thread on a Walk" (散步路上的一針一線) to transform Hermès’ passion for craftsmanship into an adorable picture book story. Kenji Oikawa has published outstanding picture books in Taiwan, including "This Is a Bus" (這是公車), "Peng Peng Washes Up" (朋朋洗澎澎), and "Where Do Bananas Come From?" (香蕉從哪裡來?). KPL’s invitation marks his first visit to Taiwan, where he will share his experiences with the audience.

The “Picture Book Fair”(繪本書展) showcases dozens of wordless picture books. Without words, readers use their imagination to tell stories through pictures. Artists from various countries have used art, music, and movie techniques to create and transform their works into impressive and memorable picture books. One book, presented in paper sculpture form, left visitors in awe as if they were appreciating an artwork. The “Picture Book Art Special Exhibition”(繪本藝術特展) is open on the 4^th floor of KPL’s main building. Three small houses set up in the tidal zone showcase three different professionals, including “creators,” “reproducers,” and “participants.” The exhibition’s introduction of exquisite reproductions, adaptations of picture books into stage plays and films, and participants’ results of a series of workshops interpret the close relationship between these three roles and picture books. 

KPL invites readers to enter the world of picture books before October 1^st by joining various activities. Readers will understand the impact of cross-domain collaboration on picture book creations by attending activities such as picture book exhibitions, picture book art special exhibitions, workshops, and storytelling sessions. KPL also reminds picture book fans to seize the opportunity of 100 %ORANGE’s first visit to Kaohsiung and participate in the eventful International Picture Book Salon. Pre-orders of the tickets for the three salons and one parent-child workshop are available now. Participants registering for the workshop will receive Kenji Oikawa’s latest Chinese picture book, “Gingko Nut's Fruits”(銀杏的果實), co-published by Linking Publishing and Kenji Oikawa.

The Picture Book Salon’s grand debut in 2023. Picture book fans participate in four events in two days and a series of special exhibitions and book fairs.

The cross-domain theme creates interactions with its diverse presentations, transforming picture books from 2D to 3D.

Children discover and explore the charm of picture books by playing with the interactive picture books in the themed book fair “Tomorrow's Picture Books X Cross-Domain” (明日的繪本X跨領域).

Parents and children happily discover the interplay between light and shadows in the interactive picture book exhibition.

Picture book fans discover the bird mother feeding baby birds changes as light and shadow move.