Wort. Bild. Buch - Was Illustration kann

In the organizer's words:

No one is surprised when there are lots of colorful pictures in children's books - but illustrations in a book of serious literature? Doesn't the pictorial level distort the "pure" content of the text? The answer to this question has changed radically. Individualized reading habits provide room for experimentation and interest in "pictures in books" has also grown. The exhibition focuses on this exciting development and shows the diversity of illustrators' work in the 21st century.

The focus is on literary book projects: What roles does illustration take on? What is the relationship between text and image? Sometimes illustrators bring the time or culture described in the text to life. Sometimes they put the reader
into a certain mood - often even before the first line is read. With some books, slipcases, fold-out posters or other additions make for a special reading experience.

Some graphic designers use their illustrations to create their very own focal points. Others even integrate the text into their pictures and influence the reader's rhythm. Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus" are used as examples to show how much illustrations influence the perception of a material.
There are countless ways in which text and image interact, but one characteristic distinguishes all examples: Book illustration is more than the repetition of textual content with visual means. The interplay of text and image creates completely new works.