Press invitation: Swedish Picture Book of the Year / The Excursion

Anders Holmer’s Utflykt [The Excursion] has been named the Swedish Picture Book of the Year 2024. On March 14, in conjunction with the award ceremony at Littfest, Bildmuseet opens an exhibition of the original illustrations from the winning book.

Press are welcome to request previews of the exhibition by appointment.

Swedish Picture Book of the Year / The Excursion presents all the original paintings and visitors can listen to Anders Holmer describing how the book came about. Two friends – one with a tail and one with a trunk – make their way through mysterious, imaginative landscapes. They travel over deep precipices and flaming volcanoes, across stormy seas and through prickly rose hip thickets. The story – which can be read on multiple levels – depicts their meandering through the world and pays tribute to children’s unique ability to make sense of existence through hopeful playfulness.

From the jury’s citation: With humour and empathy, Holmer portrays the essential elements of the excursion and the suspenseful uncertainty. This, in turn, raises broader questions: Is life an excursion? Are we there yet? No. “So it’s still an excursion? Yes.”

Anders Holmer (b. 1977) is a Gothenburg-based artist, author and architect. He made his picture book debut with Allting händer! in 2017 and has since produced five more: Regn (2018), Inget händer! (2019), Farväl(2021), Utflykt (2024) and Karavan (2025). His books have been met with critical acclaim, both in Sweden and internationally. Regn was nominated in the children’s and young people’s books category of the August Prize and for the Elsa Beskow Plaque. The book was also selected for the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art Exhibit, as well as the German Internationale Jugendbibliothek’s White Ravens catalogue. Regn and Utflykt were also included in the dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picturebooks selection.

Swedish Picture Book of the Year / The Excursion is produced by Bildmuseet. Museum curator Brita Täljedal, who is also a member of the Snowball Award jury, has curated the exhibition. Swedish Picture Book of the Year is a recurring exhibition presented by Bildmuseet for the fourteenth year in 2025.

Snöbollen [The Snowball national picture book award is an initiative by Krumelur – the Association for Young Words in the North in partnership with the municipality of Umeå, the Pilgatan Cultural Association, Bildmuseet, the Regional Library of Västerbotten, Littfest, Umeå International Literature Festival and the Association of Swedish Illustrators and Graphic Designers.

PRESS PREVIEWS BY APPOINTMENT
Welcome to email your request to press.bildmuseet@umu.se.
Press images. 

OPENING ON ART FRIDAY WITH LITTFEST, 14 MARCH
The exhibition is opened by a conversation between Anders Holmer and Brita Täljedal. The evening will also see the opening of the exhibition Shubigi Rao / Pulp I–IV. Additionally, poetry readings, guided tours, creative workshop, live concert by Ebban KCCH, DJ, and bar.

PROGRAMMES
The exhibition includes educational programmes and activities in the creative workshop for visitors of all ages.

Contact information

Requests for previews and interviews:
Helena Vejbrink, press officer
helena.vejbrink@bildmuseet.umu.se, +46 (0)90-786 90 73

Further information about the exhibition:
Brita Täljedal, museum curator and member of the Snowball jury
brita.taljedal@bildmuseet.umu.se, +46 (0)90-786 77 14