*Literally translated from German, the word means “book decoration” or “book jewel”
The Goethe-Institut Bulgaria is pleased to announce the “Buchschmuck” competition as part of the German Language Weeks 2018.
The German Language Weeks are an initiative of the Goethe-Institut, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sofia, the Central Office for School Affairs Abroad, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Alumniportal Germany, which aims to present the most exciting aspects of the German language and its study, as well as to give everyone, regardless of German speaker or not, the opportunity to experience the language in its diversity. The focus is on the most diverse aspects and forms of expression of the German language - from grammar, semiotics and semantics to literature, from colloquial to literary German, from learning German to studying and working in Germany.
Following this experiment of ours with the language, its forms and possibilities for interpretation, a poster competition was held within the framework of the German Language Weeks 2017. In it, artists from Bulgaria were invited to visually present difficult-to-translate German words and expressions.
This year, the German Language Weeks will issue a new challenge to graphic designers, illustrators, painters and other artists.
In Bulgarian, we say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. However, today, in the free book market and with the achievements of illustration and printing techniques, it is difficult to separate the book from its cover. In a unique way, illustration can synthesize the essence of the book in a single image, without revealing to the reader what is happening in it. A good illustration not only recreates the text, but also reflects the author’s style and the atmosphere of the book. It gives the reader freedom of imagination, but also an impulse to “continue” the picture in his head.
The competition is about how literature can be interpreted and presented visually. How can hundreds of words be presented in a single image? How can one image tell an entire story? How does an illustration complement the text, while at the same time stimulating his imagination?
With this competition we are looking for the most interesting illustrations for poems, stories, novels and novels (or individual scenes from them) by German-speaking authors. It does not matter when the works were created and published, as well as whether they have been translated into Bulgarian. All interested parties are invited to the library of the Goethe-Institut Bulgaria, where they can draw inspiration for a literary work. In addition, participants in the competition are free to choose the techniques and materials for the preparation of the illustrations - they can be digital or analog, all graphic techniques are allowed.
The ten illustrations selected by the jury will be printed and presented in an exhibition at the Goethe-Institut Language Center at 11 Benkovski Street. The exhibition will be opened during the Goethe-Institut Summer Festival on the occasion of the end of the German Language Weeks. After that, the exhibition will travel to other cities and locations in the Goethe-Institut partner network.
Requirements for illustrations:
Illustrations can be for poems, stories, novels or children's books. Participants choose the text to illustrate themselves. The Goethe-Institut will regularly publish book ideas in a Facebook event.
All graphic techniques are allowed, such as drawing, engraving, digital and 3D graphics, photography, collage, painting, etc.
The images can be vertically or horizontally oriented.
Whether and how the text, part of it or its title are present in the illustration is up to the applicants themselves.
The illustrations must be specially developed for the competition and have not been published before.
Application documents:
The proposal(s) as an image(s) for viewing (.jpeg, .png) and as a file(s) for printing – pdf in size 50 x 70 (CMYK, 300 dpi).
It is recommended to add the relevant text to the application, which is being illustrated. It can be scanned and attached as a photo, pdf or text file. In the case of prose texts, the excerpt should be a maximum of 2 pages. Poems must be attached in full length.
A completed copyright declaration.
A completed application form.
Application:
Send all required documents except the print file as an attachment to your application form with a maximum size of 10 MB. Send us the print file with a download link from Wetransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive.
One applicant can participate in the competition with a maximum of three proposals.
Send your proposals by April 15, 2018.
Who can participate:
Illustrators, graphic designers, artists and all artists who are 18 years old and live in Bulgaria.
Competition schedule:
Application deadline: April 15th
All applicants will be informed by April 25th
Opening of the exhibition with the ten selected proposals and announcement of the winner: early May (date to be specified)
Jury:
Goethe-Institut representatives
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maya Razboynikova-Frateva (Germanist and literary critic)
Kiril Zlatkov (graphic designer and illustrator)
Criteria:
Artistic and aesthetic value
Approach to working with the text
Originality and creativity
Awards:
The ten best illustrations will be printed in 50x70 cm size and presented in an exhibition at the Goethe-Institut Language Center. The exhibition will also be shown in other places in Bulgaria.
The ten selected illustrations will be presented by the Goethe-Institut at the special stand at the Sofia Book Fair, which in 2018 focuses on German-language literature and in which the Frankfurt Book Fair will have a special participation. The exact form of the presentation is yet to be specified.
First prize: 3-day trip to Berlin for two and a working visit to a selected publishing house or graphic design studio.
Second prize: free German language course at the Goethe-Institut of the participant's choice.
Third prize: Voucher for the purchase of books in the amount of 200 BGN.
Application documents and the participation form can be found on the Goethe-Institut website!
Source and photos: Goethe-Institut
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