Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) - Illustration shouldn’t be restricted to children's books

Noted Iranian illustrator Ebrahim Haghighi believes that nowadays illustration is only restricted to children's books which isn’t pleasant for books and illustration.

IBNA: Talking about the background of book's illustration in Iran, Ebrahim Haghighi said:" In Iran the history of painting is full of miniatures based on literary contexts. Miniaturists alongside calligraphers and bookbinders as well as other related artists were among the artists who worked in book production workshops and nowadays some of these masterpieces are being displayed in most of the famous museums.

He added:" Moreover illustrations were made for scientific books including astronomy or medical works. During the period of Safivid and Qajar frescos were in trend. Lithography was Qajar period's significant event."

He went on to say that following the print machines, the Iranian illustrators, inspired by Azerbaijan and Turkey's illustrators and caricaturists, started to draw caricatures. During these periods, a kind of illustrations were promoted which considered and criticized politics.

As the pint industry and books, in particularly text books developed, some designers started to illustrate. Following the establishment of the Institute of Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adult, children's books and illustrations were highlighted and great samples have indeed left behind.

Two or three decades before the Islamic Revolution, modern illustration was promoted, he said and added:" We should now remember Morteza Momayez and his illustrations for the Book Week journal. Moreover Mohammad Bahrami is among the modern illustrators who presented works for books and journals. During the time many caricaturists worked for newspapers including Ardeshir Mohasses.

In other news he added that following the Islamic Revolution, the illustration of children's books as well as caricatures developed, however illustrations for adult's stories and noted articles faded.

He then talked about works which were merely produced for festivals saying that the main weakness of children's books is the emergence of an event named festival works which means that many noted designers develop their opinions for the festivals.

Previously the festivals usually considered works which contained a national and Iranian approach but nowadays illustrations with eastern European methods are noticed. Accordingly similar works are released.

He then talked about the solutions saying that the universities should establish a special field named illustration. Moreover the Association of Illustrators should hold seminars, deliver speeches and hold different festivals and competitions.

Moreover the field lacks professional books. Some 12 years ago Nader Ebrahimi released a book about the illustrations of children's books which was the last one. I believe that the scholars' speeches and seminars can be gathered and released as books.