Focus on picturebooks as Isol received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

In a ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on Monday evening, Marisol “Isol” Misenta was presented with the 2013 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award by H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. The award ceremony paid tribute to the multitalented picture book artist from Argentina, who ended up her acceptance speech by performing an unaccompanied tango by Kurt Weill.

In her acceptance speech Isol emphasized the importance of illustrations.

– I’m glad this award gives relevance to those who think of illustration as a rich, profound language, one with a voice of its own. In picture books we can tell many things through colours, lines and shapes, and that -in turn- allows the text to breathe with freedom.

– I don’t actually think that I must put a limit to my imagination just because it’s a book for children, on the contrary! What reader could be more demanding than a child? Children have a lot of things to discover and I’d better be on their high level in order to satisfy their huge capacity for curiosity.

Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, Sweden’s Minister for Culture, acclaimed not only Isol’s qualitative artistry but also her respect for the child.

– With high artistic quality, humour and honesty Isol finds unconventional ways to reflect the realities of life and childhood through new and playful perspectives.

– Her stories show a heartfelt respect for children’s experiences and sentiments. She doesn´t shy away from also seeing the more saddening and difficult moment of life through a child’s eyes.

The award ceremony began with a piece of music performed by children and young students from El Sistema and members of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Rebecka Törnkvist. The hostess for the evening was actress Annika Hallin. Also on stage were members of Mando Diao, a rock band, who performed three songs from their latest album, which consists of settings of poems by Gustaf Fröding.

This year 207 candidates from 67 countries were nominated. The announcement took place in Vimmerby, the birthplace of Astrid Lindgren, on March 26.