One thing that unconsciously influenced us from a young age is undoubtedly fairy tales. Stories with vibrant colors, and simple yet profound lessons, capture the attention of children and serve as a valuable element in their growth. The exhibition of Lauren Child recreates the world of her original illustrations and fairy tale realm. It allows visitors to immerse themselves in her imaginative and real worlds, portraying the free perspective of children. Moreover, it provides a delightful experience that can stimulate the innocence of childhood, not only for young children, but also adults, creating a space where everyone can empathize and enjoy. With a variety of humorous characters with unique personalities, the "Lauren Child: Think Like An Elf" exhibition invites you to join and be a part of it.
Lauren Child and Her Imaginary Friends
Lauren Child has consistently brought imagination and humor to children's perspectives. Her refined working method using collage techniques combines strong character illustrations and a backdrop that transcends the boundary between imagination and reality. Lauren Child has been creating vibrant children's books with her adventurous illustrations and vivid color palettes, peering into the inner world of children. In this exhibition, you can explore her most famous and beloved works.
The first book in the "Charlie and Lola" series, titled I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato (2000). The characters "Charlie" and "Lola," central to the series, have been drawn with the vivid illustrations. What makes her work unique is the use of the collage technique, where she incorporates real photographic images into her illustrations. This technique adds a refreshing and distinctive touch to her art, giving life to the adorable blonde-haired siblings and their colorful surroundings. Lauren Child used clearer and simpler drawings to imagine readers of a younger age group. She also wanted to express the children’s various voices so used different typefaces for each character, and made it part of the picture floating around the image. Lauren Child's meticulous approach captivates readers, drawing them into the world of imagination. Her unique combination of strong character design, vibrant colors, and the collage technique offers a delightful experience that appeals to readers of all ages, including the young and the young at heart.
Lauren Child’s Own Fairy Tale World
Lauren Child has cleverly employed various devices within her own world of fairy tales to help us harness our inner child. Firstly, she uses a wide array of animals as metaphors to express the inner child. In her book, That Pesky Rat (2002), she contrasts the lives of a sophisticated rat and a proud poodle, who doesn't want to become a rat, to depict the child's quest for their own identity. Her humor shines through these amusing metaphors, where animals, dressed in various clothes, converse in ways not expected for rats and poodles. This allows the viewers to easily grasp her creative intentions. In addition, Who are you? (2002) introduced a new element called 'the book in the book'. The main character, Herb, can meet a character in a fairy tale or enter the book and wander around that fairy tale world. Another attractive point of this exhibition is that Lauren Child embodies a place where visitors can meet the fairy tale world directly like Herb in order to further stimulate their imagination. Herb in the picture on display looks the same as the visitors in the exhibition hall, which embodies the space of a fairy tale and stimulates children's curiosity.
Think Like An Elf
In the final section, which can also be called the highlight of Lauren Child's original exhibition, you can appreciate Clarice Bean's pleasant story to spend a pleasant Christmas with her neighbors. According to her, "Think Like An Elf" is a theme that runs through the story of Clarice Bean, who believes that her wishes can come true if she thinks about others, cares about them, and spreads good will. Lauren Child reveals elements of “elf” throughout her works. Pippi, who lives on the outskirts of the city and adapts to society in her own way, Lola, who is imaginative and honest about her thoughts and feelings, and Clarice, who solves various cases while enjoying time with people around her, resemble elves that the author imagines. As such, visitors can interpret that the elves are the product of mysterious imaginations. The elves can also be explained from various perspectives through the freewheeling appearance of children. In line with the year-end period when the exhibition is held, the Christmas atmosphere in the work gives visitors a more romantic year-end.
Lauren Child is an innovative children's book author who breaks readers' preconceptions and leads their imagination in new ways. Her special exhibition not only helps children but also returns busy adults from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to the world of pure childlike wonder. As you enjoy her diverse and charming works, you may find yourself deeply immersed in the exhibition without even realizing it. Furthermore, after seeing the entire exhibition, you might experience a magical transformation, becoming a person who can "think like an elf," just as the exhibition's title suggests. I recommend visiting the heartwarming exhibition, "Lauren Child: Think Like An Elf”, where you can thaw your deeply frozen inner child in the midst of the cold winter winds.
Date: 2023.11.03(Fri) – 2024.03.03(Sun)
Place: Hangaram Art Museum Galley 7
Ticket Price: Adult: 18,000 won / Children, Teenager: 15,000 won / Under 36 Months: Free
Running Time: 10:00 – 19:00 (Last Tickets Issued at 18:00 pm/ Closed Every Monday)
Tel: 02-6273-4242