Sunday, June 12, 2011

Genius

On the way home I stopped at Jaffe and Neale for presents for my children and my dad. I do love real bookshops, though I walked out with heavy bags and a light wallet. And needless to say I managed to find a thing or two for myself.
One of my favorite illustrators and authors, Shaun Tan, is on this side of the world soon for the launch of his film of The Lost Thing. So, how many favorites can you have in a short space of time? Well, the story and pictures are by Shaun Tan, the music by Tim Minchin. And I bought The Bird King, published by Templar. Beautiful. It has got me doodling again as I am more and more drawn into drawing!
And then I picked up an older copy, of Tales From Suburbia. This is one I dip in and out of like a swallow.

I always pick up shopping lists in supermarkets when they have been left in trolleys. Always try and work out who left them, how they live, what they do. Curiosity. But here Shaun Tan has done so much more with that. Read these, words and pictures.







The Illustration Cupboard has an exhibition to coincide with his visit. It will be in August. It will be astonishing.

11 comments:

  1. Shaun Tan is afavorite of mine,, I have to admitt, shopping lists left in shopping carts are a rare glimpse into others worlds, lots could be surmised by the objects listed, funny, boring or scary or just plain creepy,, reading them is rather naughty but impossible not to do,, for me ,, what a wonderful exibit, I think curiousity is one of the good things we have in common with our feline friends,

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  2. The dvd of "The Lost Thing" is fabulous, there's lots of behind the scenes descriptions & interviews and the Utopia scene is just beautiful!
    I went to a book signing for "Tales of Outer Suburbia" and Shaun's whimsical doodle on the front page is one of my favourite treasures.

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  3. I saw the film and love love loved it. Tim Minchin's voice is the icing on the (very big and rich) cake.

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  4. Why haven't I got any Shaun Tan books!?! I love these and will have to remedy that lack of at once!

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  5. Our shopping lists and even more so, our "to do" lists reveal a lot about us. I tear mine up before recycling them in the recycle bin. I am intrigued by the writings and DVD you describe here.

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  6. I love Shaun's work...I used to work with the guy who gave him his first illustration job and I even got a sneak peak of 'The Arrival' the year before it was published, I couldn't believe the amount of work, the details! 'Tales from Outer Suburbia' is one of my favourites, I guess because I recognise those peculiarly Perth suburbs that always seemed so devoid of any kind of magic...and Shaun makes me see my own city with different eyes! I haven't got 'The Bird King', I must go and find it!

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  7. No doubt it will be astonishing, I have been a fan of Shaun Tan's work since I first laid my hands on the red tree, and I just watched the lost things, it's awesome :)

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  8. Bit disappointed that the exhibition is just prints. I had thought of going to see it, but would rather travel for originals. But it would be good to meet him. I am told that like with all people of genius he is a lovely man.

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  9. Oh, and have you seen the delux edition of the Arrivals with prelims etc? Beautiful.

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  10. there's one original by Shaun Tan on the Illustration Cupboard website- "Mothers & Daughters" is a pastel.

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  11. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! So many books! So little money!

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