On the eve of Brussels BD Comic Strip Festival became known that Judith Vanistendael the Flemish comic prize de Bronze Adhemar wins. Below we post the press release from publisher Eyesightwhich publishes the author’s next comic.
Judith Vanistendael (Leuven, 1974) is active as a comic book author and illustrator. After her secondary education, she studied for a year at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. She then obtained a degree in art sciences from Ghent University and a postgraduate degree in Seville. Later she followed the Visual Story course at the Sint-Lukas College (now LUCA) in Brussels.
Her deeply human and poignant graphic novels like The Virgin and the Negro and TWhen David Lost His Voice have been translated worldwide, and the award-winning children’s book series Rosie and Moussawhich she together with Michael de Cock made, was filmed by Dorothée Van Den Berghe. Her most recent book is the beautiful, poetic The Whale Library that she, together with screenwriter Zidrou made and which in 2021 was awarded the Willy Vandersteen Prize.
Coming October 15, her latest book Atan of Kea appear, in which Judith introduces us to the civilization of the Greek archipelago of the Cyclades some five thousand years ago. This surprisingly intimate book is also a tender story about the ever complex quest of a growing adolescent boy. Judith teaches at the LUCA in Brussels and lives in Molenbeek with her family.
Comic Legend Joost Swarte about Judith: ‘Always touched by the subjects that Judith tackles. Always pleasantly surprised by the free hand of drawing. Judith Vanistendael’s works always claim their place in your head.’
Ilke Froyendirector of the International House of Literature Passa Porta, about Judith: ‘Judith has a unique place in the comics landscape. She is a poetic storyteller, strong in word and image. She is also an adventurous maker, who finds its own tone and visual language for each story and experiments with different techniques. Moreover, she knows very well how to capture the spirit of the times by bringing major social themes close to the reader.’
