The exhibition ‘Rebel Girls: Illustrating Identity’ is linked to the inaugural chair of Emilie Sitzia. This experimental participatory exhibition explores the rebel girls of children’s literature. Through a selection of newly-collected personal stories, the exhibition examines our enduring connection with the rebel girls of children’s literature.
When: 18 June – 6 July 2018. Opening 17 June, 15.00 – 17.00
Where: Oude Turfmarkt 129, Amsterdam
In recorded interviews, twenty-somethings discuss the impact that these illustrated literary characters continue to have on their lives. Visitors can return to the worlds of beloved fictional characters such as Pippi and Matilda, Otje and Madeline, to discover what it means to be a rebel girl.
To explore what a rebel girl looks like, vitrines recreate signature rebel girl looks from the original illustrations, from Madeline’s hat to Pippi’s socks. This playful approach questions the visual representation of badly-behaved girls in literature, showing how it often contrasts with society’s feminine stereotypes.
Visitors are invited to enjoy the exhibition space. They can listen to interviews, take a quiz to find out which rebel girl they most resemble, or pick up a book in our reading nook and get to know a new rebel girl. For this exhibition over 50 people contributed stories about their favourite rebel girl. A selection are presented on the exhibition website rebelgirls.nl, where visitors can share their own personal story of rebel girls that inspired them.
The exhibition accompanies the inaugural lecture of Emilie Sitzia, Special Chair Illustration at UvA. The lecture “Illustration is everyone’s mother tongue”: The Role of Illustration in Individual Identity Formation will take place on 4 July, 16.00 at the Auditorium of the University (entrance Singel 411, corner Spui). This lecture is free and open to the public.
The special chair Illustration at the UvA is made possible by the Fiep Westendorp Foundation. More information about the special chair Illustration, the Fiep Westendorp Stimulation Prize for young illustrators and other projects of the Fiep Westendorp Foundation can be found at www.fiepwestendorp.nl.
