Nevena Angelova - This Is Totally Outrageous

In the 48 poems by the famous Bulgarian poet Victor Samuilov, children will read about a variety of things that happen to them every day. The child becomes terribly tall when he is on his father’s shoulders. Or he makes mistakes and stumbles over the “puncturation” marks in chats. Or he asks for medicine to cure laziness. Or he argues with his grandparents and parents over various topics connected with getting to know world. Illustrator Nevena Angelova has immersed herself in these poems with great love. In the book’s layout, some of them are found on larger pages, which fold into the main body of the book and create an additional playful moment. In the mixed technique, the artist works combines assemblages with clothespins, pieces of fabric, newspapers, papers of different textures, and collages in several layers. Added to the entire wealth of expressive media are drawings with pencil, tempera, and watercolor, made with special care and an eye for the characteristics of children’s perception. Special attention is paid to working with the text – the drawn letters, words, and whole sentences take on a life of their own. “Silence!” struggles against “shush!” and “nothing” against “something.” It is a fabulous and wonderfully illustrated book about children’s everyday life and fantasies.