Anne Brouillard invites us to abandon ourselves to a dreamlike dimension and a dilated timein which what amazes us is not the presence but the absence of extraordinary events. It orchestrates a rhythm of precious words and dialogues, intertwined with illustrations that are now single, descriptive and sequential, now double-page, eloquent and silent. The author wisely alternates them to give us a wider breath and to stimulate a pause where he deems it most necessary.
If you are a lover of meticulously illustrated books, if you get lost in the details of the rooms, among the shelves, the everyday objects, the small hidden memorabilia, the references between the pages, then you will love taking time to explore the house Of Killiok! The more curious (or true architecture enthusiasts) will be happy to find a detailed plan of the house in the final endpapers. Just think that the author, in her study, even keeps a 3D model of it. Why so much attention?
In an interview, Anne Brouillard she says she cares a lot about the topos of the house, which before being a building is for her a memory of childhood, a place where experiences overlap and intertwine in layers of life. She prefers to distance herself from the idea of a mere protective cocoon, which can sometimes be suffocating, risking devouring us. This is why, given the choice, the author would like to live in Killiok’s house: extremely airy, bright, from which she can enter and exit easily. A refuge that instills protection without limiting the gaze on the vastness of the outside world, just as our protagonist likes it.
But Killiok’s universe extends far beyond his home and the pages of this book. Despite having just made his debut in Italy, the little dog has already won the hearts of the French-speaking public with his multiple adventures, all set in a magical and vibrant world called Chintia. Created by the skillful inspiration of Anne Brouillard and inspired by the evocative landscapes of Sweden, Chintia it is a place full of wonders and mysteries, divided into 11 regions, including the picturesque one Tranquil Lake Country by Killiok. These stories have earned them selection for important awards such as Ibby’s Honor List, the Prix Sorcières, the Astrid Lindgren and Hans Christian Andersen Award; if you want to immerse yourself in their unique atmosphere while waiting for their translation, we would like to point out the monographic exhibition scheduled between April and May at the Foundation of Monte di Bologna and Ravennadedicated precisely to the narrative universe of Anne Brouillard.
In the meantime, Killiok is waiting for you below for a coffee, a reading in the sun and new projects inspired by the wind – some destined to take root, others to be blown away.
