Giant balloons will be back with a sneak peek into Korean comics world
From 10 September to 10 October 2021, the 12th edition of the Brussels Comic Book Festival will be held in an exceptional new format: a month-long festival punctuated by exhibitions, events and original meetings. With a fun exhibition, a treasure hunt, guided tours and book signings, there will be something for all ages and tastes. And, to top it all off, the giant balloons will return, to a few strategic locations.
10 September will mark the start of a month-long celebration of the ninth art in Brussels. This special edition of the Brussels Comic Strip Festival will be full of surprises. It will be an invitation to travel, starting with a flight to South Korea – the festival’s guest of honour-on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and the Republic of Korea.
The festival will kick off with the presentation of the Atomium Awards and the various prize-winning authors. A total of 11 awards and more than €100,000 in prize money will be distributed among the winners. This will be followed by four weeks of colourful activities. There will be two exhibitions devoted to Korean comics, immersive journeys through Lucky Luke’s Wild West and Tanz!’s New York City, an exhibition on the series Le Château des Etoiles and its Jules Verne-like universe, and a discovery of the work of Olivier Schrauwen.
Similarly an exhibition on Le Château des étoiles will present the main themes of this comic book series: the geopolitical context, the knowledge of astronomy and the technological progress of the 19th century. It’s also a tribute to the work of Jules Verne, as readers encounter machines invented by the legendary author.
Besides, Brussels Park will be decorated with large-format illustrations from the adventures of Corto Maltese. The exhibition literally transports this essential work to the heart of Brussels.
Comic book fans are in for a treat. They will also get the opportunity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blake and Mortimer series and meet their favourite authors at signing sessions in several Brussels bookshops. Children will have the opportunity to participate in activities and games. The icing on the cake will be the unveiling of new balloon and the inauguration of new comic book murals.
Guest of honour
Already present through its comics at previous editions of the Brussels Comic Book Festival, this year it takes centre stage through two exhibitions: “Manhwa & webtoon: The Rise of Korean Comics” at the Belgian Comic Strip Center and “Speaking through comics” at the BELvue Museum. Other activities in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre punctuate this festive month.
Manhwa & webtoon. The Rise of Korean Comics (from 9 July 2021 to 9 January 2022) presents the history of Korean comics retraced through major works and author portraits. Organised by Korean Manhwa Museum and the Korean Cultural Centre of Brussels it presents different genres of Korean comics such as manhwa and webtoon, as is the constant evolution of Korean comics, which is forever seeking to adapt to the new demands of readers.
While, exhibition Speaking Through Comics presents Belgian and Korean comics as a reflection of changes in society. The themes present in the works are those of social Europe as well as those reflecting the values of the BELVue museum that hosts the exhibition, i.e. democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migration and language. This is a production by KOMACON (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency) in partnership with the BELvue Museum and the Brussels Comic Strip Festival. It will run from 9 September to 24 October.
Activities
The Brussels Comic Strip Festival also features a plethora of entertainment activities. The Belgian Comic Strip Center will be hosting numerous authors for encounters and workshops for the general public. Children can also take part in two new treasure hunts in Egmont Park. One is organised in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre, while the other is organised in partnership with Editions Kennes and will round off the Brussels Comic Strip Festival. The giant comic strip balloon characters will be on display in strategic locations throughout the capital. Not forgetting the traditional free guided comic strip tours and signing sessions scheduled by specialist bookshops.