From October 2 to October 28, 2023, visitors to the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre can enjoy a solo exhibition by Estonian author and illustrator of picture books, Kertu Sillaste, celebrating her 50th birthday. The exhibition will be officially opened on October 6th at 4:00 PM.
“I have been creating book illustrations for more than 15 years now. Drawing, pasting, enhancing pictures with the computer. I have created ten author books, three of which are wordless. I started making author books because there were themes and image divisions that wanted to fit into a book, but there was no suitable story to take from anywhere. It seemed like I had to write it myself. Now I enjoy the most the collaboration of text and image,” said Kertu Sillaste.
The exhibition features several illustration series. In the staircase gallery, there are pictures based on the Latvian fairy tale “Vanataadi kinnas” (Grandfather’s Mitten) and Kertu Sillaste’s book “Mina olen illustraator” (I Am an Illustrator). In the main hall, visitors can see illustrations for the Seto fairy tale “Lõbusad pealuud” (Funny Skulls), which are assembled from various found materials using the so-called collage technique. “Creating collage pictures is completely different from drawing and painting. It involves the joy of discovery, the pleasure of fitting pieces, bits, and gadgets together, and highlighting the importance of small details,” noted the author of book illustrations.
Kertu Sillaste (1973) is an author and illustrator of books, a textile artist, an art and illustration teacher. She is a member of the Estonian Association of Graphic Designers and the Estonian Textile Artists’ Association, as well as the secretary of IBBY Estonia. Since 2009, Sillaste has participated in book art exhibitions in Estonia, Iran, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Finland, the UK, Denmark, Hungary, and Russia. Her illustrations have been featured in exhibitions at the Bratislava Illustration Biennial and the Tallinn Illustration Triennial since 2013.
The exhibition can be visited during the centre’s opening hours, Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Illustration by Kertu Sillaste
