National Museum, Cardiff
In a small room upstairs is an exhibition of Quentin Blake’s work and illustrations, a name synonymous with generations of childhood. His work is also loved outside of his collaborations with authors – most well known being Roald Dahl, but also including David Walliams and Michael Rosen.
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The room housing the exhibition is quite small; I think I was expecting it to be more. In the middle of the room are several glass cases displaying Blake’s illustration process – Matilda and Danny Champion of the World, these two Dahl novels display the different ways Blake illustrates: the more realistic world of Danny, with Blake illustrating in a style closer to realism. Along the walls are more illustrations, as well as Dahl there are illustrations from Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, David Walliams’s The Boy in a Dress and Blake’s beautiful illustrations for Voltaire’s Candide, which Blake describes as a “children’s book for adults”.
Apart from the illustrations for Candide, for me the best parts of the exhibition are the huge versions of Blake’s illustrations on the walls, including a large illustrated representation of Blake’s workspace. It’s here you can study the deceptive simplicity and beauty of these works. At either sides of the room are two interactive areas, one a children’s drawing/colouring and reading table, and the other side has videos to watch Blake at work.
Like his illustrations, this exhibition of Quentin Blake is small, simple and beautiful. When I grew up it was Blake’s illustrations that stuck with me more than Dahl’s stories, so it’s interesting to see what’s behind these drawings. Around the walls are Blake’s answers to questions from children, it’s comforting to see that Blake is still growing strong and his drawings are continuing to charm children. If you’re a grown up, at least go along just to study Blake’s beautiful illustrations for Candide!
Inside Stories runs until November 20th.
words CHRIS WILLIAMS