The project of the traveling exhibition Beyond Paper Plane presents contemporary Czech illustrators and artists with a special emphasis on children's work. The curatorial selection showcases books that work with three-dimensional space and connect the book object with an autonomous artwork. After its Egyptian premiere in Cairo and a subsequent stop in Alexandria, the exhibition is now moving to Suez, specifically to the city of Ismailia.
The selected publications utilize spatial solutions and haptic elements, thereby expanding the possibilities of perceiving the book as a medium. Material truthfulness and emphasis on authenticity allow the child reader a deeper engagement with the story. Contemporary children's books thus become not only a means of visual communication but also a tool for further interactive and educational use – from hand-enhancing illustrations to their possible translation into virtual reality.
The Beyond Paper Plane exhibition was first presented in Egypt in July at Bibliothek Egypt, and in November, the Czech Center Cairo presented it in the city with a famous history of books, namely Alexandria. In Ismailia, the exhibition will be hosted by the local branch of Misr Public Library, which was a stop for another exhibition in 2023 – Czech and Egyptian heroines.
Organizers
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo
Czech Center Cairo
Misr Public Library Ismailia
