A session was held on Saturday, May 26, on commemorating Mohammad Ali Baniasadi and evaluating his works. During the session the managing director of the Association of Illustrators said:" In his illustrations, Baniasadi sought Iranian, eastern as well as his personal identity."

IBNA: The specialized session was held on Saturday, May 26, in the Institute of Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults' center of artistic and cultural creations.

Nooshafarin Ansari, Supervisor of Children's Book Council explained about selecting the nominees of Hans Christian Andersen Award saying that colleagues who were responsible for evaluating the works of Baniasadi in order to introduce him to the international award, carried a vital responsibility since a main part of the international success depends on holding an endorsed and approved file.

She then asked Baniasadi that previously the Institute of Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) had an impressive role in raising authors, directors and illustrators, do you think it is so now?

Baniasadi responded presenting a summary of his activity as the member of IIDCYA saying that the center use to cover many activities and it used to send books to remote villages as well.

In other news, Sahar Tarhandeh, member of the 2012 Andersen Award jury, talked about the standards of selecting the award's books saying that the high quality of literary and artistic works, the work's coordination with the reader's abilities, the illustrator and author's continuous efforts, the book's originality and its share in children's literature are among the general standards of choosing the selected books.

She added that international judges believe that Baniasadi's works are too eastern and local and the artist has perfectly recreated the symbols and elements of ancient inscriptions, paintings and structures in accordance with modern lives.

She went on to say that the juries completely understand his works without knowing about the context.

As foreign publishers financially support successful illustrators she hoped that some day Iran will also witness such event and added:" Peter Sís, the selected illustrator of 2012 Hans Christian Andersen, was financially supported by his publisher for four years. Accordingly he succeeded to create the illustrations of Attar's The Conference of the Birds and grab the award."

Furthermore the managing director of the Association of Illustrators Ali Hashemi Shahraki said:" In his illustrations, Baniasadi sought Iranian, eastern as well as his personal identity and he was the one who had a significant role in modernizing Iranian illustrations."

Moreover veteran children's book's translator and author Gholamreza Imami said:" Visiting Bologna Exhibition, I saw Baniasadi's photo in IBBY's stall among the five finalists which indeed made me proud as an Iranian."

Iranian illustrator Mohammad Ali Baniasadi was a nominee for the credible Hans Christian Andersen Awards, 2012.

Mohammad Ali Baniasadi started his career in 1981 and, since then, has done the illustrations for over 80 children’s and young adult’s books. He also works as a professional painter, sculptor and caricaturist, collaborating with several Iranian magazines and newspapers. In addition to his career as an illustrator, Baniasadi has also dedicated much of his time to the training of young artists. He is currently a member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran.

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