Taiwanese illustrator wins coveted award at Bologna fair

Rome, March 30 (CNA) Page Tsou, a 33-year-old illustrator from Taiwan, has won the International Award for Illustration, one of the most important prizes presented at the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair. Tsou, who graduated from the British Royal College of Art last year, was the first Taiwanese illustrator to garner such a high honor in an international book fair. The Britain-based artist not only won US$30,000 in cash prize but also secured the privilege for Spain's prestigious publishing company Maria Jesus Gil Iglesiast to publish his works. Tsou also obtained the right to display his illustrations at a special booth at the 2012 Bologna Children's Book Fair. This was the second year that the Bologna event organizers have presented the International Award for Illustration to honor outstanding illustrators under the age of 35. Tsou beat nearly 3,000 hopefuls from around the world to capture the award. Two other Taiwanese artists -- Chen Ying-fan and Chang Che-ming -- ranked among the 76 finalists to vie for the award. Upon learning of his winning, an excited Tsou said the prize came as a big surprise to him. "It's incredible," he exclaimed. Tsou said he will hold an exhibition of his works in London in April and is scheduled to stage a similar exhibition in Taiwan in July. (By Huang Ya-shih and Sofia Wu) enditem/sc

Taiwanese illustrator wins coveted award at Bologna fair Rome, March 30 (CNA) Page Tsou, a 33-year-old illustrator from Taiwan, has won the International Award for Illustration, one of the most important prizes presented at the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair.