September is not only a month of literature but also the kick-start of the fall art season with the Berlin Art Week.
With the German premier of Rachel Cusk’s novel »Parade«, a conversation between Olivia Laing Daniel Schreiber, and Graphic Novel Day, the ilb leads into this week of openings and exhibitions by celebrating author-illustrators and the deep and longstanding cross-inspiration shared between writing and the visual arts.
Olivia Laing and Rachel Cusk are two English-speaking writers who gained veritable cult status through their acclaimed books and critical writing on the roles of the artist and contemporary art. They take the stage at the ilb back-to-back, respectively on September 09 and 10. Renowned for her acute observations of the conflicts embedded in womens’ creative identities, motherhood, and family life, Cusk presents her twelfth novel »Parade« in Berlin. Laing, who has written on arts and culture for publications including The Guardian, Frieze and the New York Times, speaks with celebrated German essayist Daniel Schreiber on the themes of aloneness and turning to art in times of (personal) crisis in their event »Encounter in the Lonely City«.
Fans of comics and zines can enjoy Graphic Novel Day and the pop-up comic book fair Artist Alley on Saturday, September 07 with a special ticket package. Highlights of the day are presentations by illustrators Nora Krug, Nicolas Mahler, Nina Six and Nando von Arb, whose works address topics ranging from the Ukraine War, Kafka, the trials of puberty, and fear. See below for more details on their prize-winning books and images!
We are looking forward to your visit and an inspiring week full of art and literature!
Kind regards
Two who have written about loneliness and the search for solace, Susan Sontag, the experience of addiction and the regenerative power of gardening. In conversation, Daniel Schreiber and Olivia Laing discuss the art of writing literary non-fiction and favorite passages from each other’s books – from Schreiber’s »Alone« to Laing’s »The Garden Against Time« (to be published in German in 2025).
Encounter in the Lonely City – Daniel Schreiber Olivia Laing Find Hope | Mo 09 Sep | 18:30
A mother dies and her children have to confront the role models they have inherited. In Paris, a woman is attacked by a stranger. An author hides his work behind pseudonyms. In G’s pictures, everything is turned upside down. In »Parade«, a series of astonishing events, Rachel Cusk explores the themes of art, family, and gender. »A first-rate writer, caustically intelligent and sharply observant« (New York Times). Moderated by Miryam Schellbach (in English) and featuring a reading in German by Katja Riemann.
Rachel Cusk – Parade: German Book Premiere | Di 10 Sep | 20:00
Graphic Novel Day
On Graphic Novel Day, young talents and stars of the scene will explore unusual ways of storytelling.
The Artist Alley with a Pop-Up-Comic Book Fair offers space to browse, get to know, and discover with a pop-up comic book fair.
More than a dozen exhibitors, including Berlin comic publishers, artists, and zine publishers, will be presenting their works and looking forward to exchanging ideas with other graphic novel fans and the public. The focus is on the community. Books, Graphic Novels, Comics, and Prints will be offered for sale. The pop-up comic book fair is organized in cooperation with ComicInvasion Berlin.
The Graphic Novel Day is a cooperative project with EUNIC.
Ticket Package: Purchase tickets for all events of the Graphic Novel Day and save 10% compared to buying them individually.
Including artist talks with Nora Krug, Nando von Arb, Nicolas Mahler and Nina Six!
Thalle, a small town in the French countryside: Nina has recently started secondary school, but because of her childish appearance she is the object of ridicule from her classmates. Nina is even shunned by her old friend Camille. One morning, however, change is in the air: a strangely vivid-looking foam has covered Thalle’s old water pipes. In multi-colored watercolors Nina Six (France) tells in »La Mousse« of the difficult phase of puberty.
Moderated by Lilian Pithan
The event is held in French with consecutive translation into German.
Nina Six – La Mousse | German Book Premiere | Sa 07 Sep | 16:00
How do you face your fears? What helps against a panic attack? In »Fürchten lernen«, Nando von Arb takes a colorful and contrasting look at a basic human emotion. »Eerie, almost psychedelic, at the same time terribly beautiful and witty« (Tages-Anzeiger).
Moderated by Lilian Pithan
The event will be held in German.
Nando von Arb – Fürchten lernen | Sa 07 Sep | 17:00
With »Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home«, »On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century«, and »Diaries of War«, Nora Krug (USA/ D) presents a trilogy on human behavior in the face of state violence. She combines illustration, text, photography, and archive documents and sheds light on such difficult topics as Nazi perpetration, authoritarianism, and the war in Ukraine. »An impressive appeal to take a closer look« (SWR).
Moderated by Lilian Pithan
The event will be held in German.
Nora Krug: Illustrating Conflict | Sa 07 Sep | 18:00
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka’s death, Nicolas Mahler, »the Austrian comic genius« (Denis Scheck), presents an illustrated biography that introduces Kafka’s life and his most important works with dry humor and minimalist strokes: Gregor Samsa makes an appearance, as do the hunger artist and the singing mouse Josefine. »Witty and almost chummy, but with a great deal of connoisseurship« (Welt am Sonntag).
Moderated by Lilian Pithan
The event will be held in German.
Nicolas Mahler – Komplett Kafka | Sa 07 Sep | 19:00