On May 14, at the invitation of Marek Repovsky, Slovak Ambassador to Korea, I had the pleasure of visiting a special exhibition on Nami Island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB). Founded in 1967, BIB is the world’s oldest and most prestigious international biennale dedicated to children’s book illustrators, tracing the artistic evolution of picture books across cultures and generations.
Co-organized by the Slovak Embassy in Seoul and BIBIANA, or International House of Art for Children, the exhibition, which runs through July 5 at the island’s Peace Gallery, presents an impressive retrospective of Grand Prix winners and award-winning illustrations from around the world. More than an art exhibition, it symbolizes the enduring cultural friendship between Slovakia and Nami Island.
After touring the gallery, I walked through the island’s vibrant forest paths and unexpectedly encountered Bruno Jans, Belgian ambassador to Korea; Damir Kusen, Croatian ambassador to Korea; and Erika Sfascia, deputy director of the Italian Cultural Center in Seoul. Accustomed to meeting such distinguished figures in luxurious hotel reception halls, I found it refreshing to see them enjoying the peaceful May greenery beneath towering trees.
