Press release -
Illustration by Shaun Tan to Nationalmuseum
Today, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm receives an illustration by Shaun Tan, this year’s recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The works of Shaun Tan can thereby be available to the general public and preserved for future generations.
– The Nationalmuseum is very delighted to receive an original work of this year's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award recipient Shaun Tan. He appears here as a great innovator of a classical pictorial world in children's book form. The acquisition of Shaun Tan's illustration is therefore a valuable complement to the museum's collections of children's book illustrations, says Magnus Olausson, Director of Collections and the Swedish Portrait Gallery at the Nationalmuseum.
In the illustration Shaun Tan’s and Astrid Lindgren’s characters meet. Using pencil and crayon Shaun Tan let Astrid Lindgren's most famous figure Pippi Longstocking sit at the head of a water buffalo. The water buffalo as a motif is included in the short story The Water Buffalo in the anthology Tales from Outer Suburbia (Allen & Unwin, 2008).
Shaun Tan made the illustration for his visit to Stockholm in late May this year, and it was presented for the first time in his award lecture at the House of Culture in Stockholm. Shaun Tan chose to donate the illustration to the Nationalmuseum as a gift to Sweden.
Shaun Tan is an author and illustrator from Australia, and has illustrated over 20 books, of which two are published in Sweden (Ankomsten, Kabusa Böcker 2010 and Det röda trädet, Kabusa Böcker 2011). He also collaborates on animated film, musical and theatrical adaptations of his works, as well as producing fine art and murals. On May 31 he received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria at a ceremony in Stockholm Concert Hall.
Visit www.alma.se/en for more information about the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. For questions, please contact helene.andersson@alma.se or +46 (0)76 540 10 17. For further information about Shaun Tan, visit www.shauntan.net.
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The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is awarded annually to a single recipient or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and those active in reading promotion may be rewarded. The award is designed to promote interest in children's and young adult literature, and in children's rights, globally. An expert jury selects the winners from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations worldwide. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.
