WE REFUSE TO EXHIBIT OUR ARTWORKS AT BIB - BIENNIAL OF ILLUSTRATION BRATISLAVA 2025!
We are Slovak illustrators – you may not recognize our faces and names, but you see our work in books, magazines, and on posters. For many of us, participating in BIB – Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava has been a long-standing dream and a prestigious goal. Generations of children have visited BIB with their parents, grandparents, or school classes – it was not only a major social event for visitors, but also a celebration of illustration, and not only Slovak illustration.
However, this year we did not submit our artworks to the nomination exhibition, which is supposed to showcase the best of Slovak children´s illustration.
The International House of Art for Children BIBIANA, which organizes the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, has not been functioning as a democratic cultural institution for a long time – not just for the last year and a half. We tried to communicate this before in a gentle way, we tried to point out that things could be different – but in vain. You may have noticed that the situation has escalated to such an extent that we did not apply with our books in the Most Beautiful Books of Slovakia 2024 competition neither. Our actions were supported by both large and small publishing houses.
NOW, HOWEVER, THE TIME HAS COME TO SPEAK UP AGAIN, AND WE ARE THEREFORE REQUESTING PUBLICLY:
That the hiring process for the management of BIBIANA, the International House of Art for Children, be open and transparent, and not take place behind closed doors. This also applies to all professional positions.
That the position of the general commissioner of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava be hired through a selection process, that this position be limited to a maximum of two BIB editions, and that the person who holds it be chosen by consensus among the professional illustration community and on the basis of the best project.
The selection of illustrations that the public will see at the nomination exhibitions, one of the highlights of the event, should be carried out fairly by a professional jury, which should be changed regularly and should refrain from competing in the given year. We are convinced that clear criteria should also be established for membership in selection committees.
To improve the quality of presentation materials and the exhibition design itself during BIB - Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, as well as other exhibitions and stands at major international events that represent Slovak book culture, so that we do not lag behind in international competition.
That the originals of book illustrations, which illustrators have donated or symbolically provided to the International House of Art for Children BIBIANA for a fraction of their actual value, be digitized and made available to the public on the BIBIANA website, and that they be regularly and dignifiedly presented at exhibitions.
And last but not least – we are not indifferent to what is happening beyond our borders. We therefore demand that countries accused of war crimes be uncompromisingly excluded from the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava competition. At the same time, however, we want artists who represent these countries and who often oppose their own governments to have the opportunity to participate "under a white flag."
For decades, "BIB" has been a mark of quality. It has been associated with the names of Miroslav Cipár and Albín Brunovský, who co-founded it. The Grand Prix and Golden Apple awards have also been won by Viera Bombová, Róbert Brun, Viera Gergeľová, Martina Matlovičová, Dušan Kállay, Jana Kiselová-Siteková, Peter Uchnár, Adolf Born, and Květa Pacovská, as well as foreign personalities such as Lorenzo Mattotti, Leo Lionni, Iwona Chmielewska, Martin Jarrie, Elena Odriozola, Iku Dekune, Javier Zabala, and Paloma Valdivia.
BIB - THE BIENNIAL OF ILLUSTRATION BRATISLAVA HAS BEEN BOTH SLOVAK AND GLOBAL AT THE SAME TIME. IT COULD BE AGAIN.
However, for years this competition has been in decline, drawing criticism from experts for its lack of transparency and ideological influence on decision-making processes.
An attempt to reform the event by a new team during BIB 2023 brought hope for change. An open call was announced, public competitions were held, promotional materials were visually well-designed, and a mobile app with a catalog, map of exhibitions, and program for children and adults with professional gallery lecturers was also included. The exhibition took place in 11 different exhibition spaces throughout the city center to make it accessible to the widest possible audience. Books were also added for browsing right next to the exhibited illustrations, which allowed for a better understanding of the story and context of the illustrations. Simply put, Bratislava came alive again through illustrations.
Now we are going back in time.
In the current situation, we consider it necessary to speak publicly about why we feel anger and dissatisfaction so strong that we refuse to exhibit our works at BIB - Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava 2025. Our goal is not to destroy the tradition that the Biennial represents, but on the contrary: to protect its integrity, restore its strength, dignity, and artistic level, and ensure that it once again becomes a credible space for the presentation of children's illustration.
Without fundamental changes at the International House of Art for Children BIBIANA, we cannot in good conscience support this format and legitimize the status and development of this institution through our participation. We cannot passively watch the deepening of non-transparency, unprofessionalism, and manipulation at one of the most important events in the field of children's illustration.
YOU WON'T SEE AT BIB 2025
LIST OF SIGNATURES
Adela Režná – Illustrator
Adrián Hnát – Illustrator
Alexandra Buricová – Illustrator
Alexandra Just – Illustrator
Alica Kucharovič – Illustrator
Alžbeta Kováčová – Illustrator
Andrej Kolenčík – Illustrator
Anna Hájková – Illustrator
Audrey Dowling – Illustrator
Barbora Dzadík Kmecová – Illustrator
Barbora Idesová – Illustrator
Barbora Müllerová – Illustrator and Curator of the LUSTR festival
Bianka Töröková – Illustrator
Bohuš Argaláš – Illustrator, Student
Boris Šima – Illustrator
Broňa Schragge – Illustrator
Bystrík Vančo – Illustrator
Csilla Dózsa – Illustrator
Daniela Olejníková – Illustrator
Dávid Marcin – Illustrator
Dávid Pogran – Illustrator
Dávid Soboň – Illustrator
Denisa Stanislavová – Illustrator
Ďuro Balogh – Illustrator
Edita Hajdu – Illustrator
Eduard Klena jr. – Artist, Illustrator
Ema Ftorková – Illustrator, Student
Emília Jesenská – Illustrator
Eva Ondová – Illustrator
Eva Šimonová – Illustrator
Eva Škandíková – Illustrator
Filip Bandurčin – Graphic designer, Illustrator, Teacher
Filip Horník – Illustrator
Hana Križanová / Han Donau – Illustrator
Hedviga M. Gutierrez – Illustrator
Igor Derevenec – Illustrator and Graphic designer
Ivana Krištofovičová – Illustrator
Ivana Šáteková – Illustrator
Ivana Šebestová – Illustrator
Jakub Šimjak – Illustrator, Graphic designer
Ján Kurinec – Illustrator
Ján Meisner – Illustrator
Jana Malatincová – Illustrator
Jozef Danglár Gertli – Illustrator
Jozef Gľaba – Illustrator, Printmaker, Visual artist
Karolína Uherčíková – Illustrator
Katarína Hutníková – Illustrator
Katarína Chlebničanová – Illustrator, Graphic designer
Katarína Ilkovičová – Illustrator
Katarina Macurova – Illustrator
Katarína Rybnická – Illustrator
Katarína Schwarz – Illustrator and Graphic designer
Kateřina Morgenstein – Illustrator and Graphic designer
Klára Zahrádková – Illustrator
Kristína Babulicová – Illustrator and Graphic designer
Kristína Saganová – Illustrator
Kristína Soboň – Illustrator
Ladislav Dlhý – Illustrator
Lenka Šturmankinová – Illustrator
Lívia Suchá – Illustrator
Lucia Lukáčová – Illustrator
Lucia Zednikovičová – Illustrator
Lucia Žatkuliaková – Illustrator
Lukáš Freytag – Illustrator, Comics creator, Teacher
Magdalena Rutová – Illustrator
Marek Cina – Illustrator, Printmaker and Artist
Marek Mertinko – Illustrator
Margaret Anne Suggs – Illustrator
Mária Kralovič – Illustrator, Director of animated movies
Mária Nerádová – Illustrator
Marta Matus – Illustrator
Martin Luciak – Illustrator, Comics creator
Martin Mrva – Illustrator
Martin Schwarz – Illustrator and Teacher
Martin Smatana – Ilustrator and Animator
Martina Masarovičová – Illustrator
Martina Matlovičová – Illustrator
Martu Hlavajová – Illustrator, Lector
Matej Ilčík – Illustrator
Matej Mazák – Animator and Illustrator
Matúš Maťátko – Illustrator
Miloš Kopták – Illustrator
Nikola Aronová – Illustrator
Nina Bohušová – Illustrator and Graphic designer
Noémi Ráczová – Illustrator
Peter Kľúčik – Illustrator
Peter Ličko – Illustrator
Petra Baďová – Illustrator, Visual artist and Teacher
Petra Lukovicsová – Illustrator
Simona Smatana – Illustrator
Terezia Dostalova – Illustrator
Terézia Lomnická – Illustrator
Tomáš Bereš – Illustrator
Tomáš Klepoch – Illustrator
Una Woods – Illustrator
Veronika Klímová – Illustrator
Veronika Obertová – Illustrator
Viliam Slaminka – Illustrator
Vladimír Král – Illustrator
Vladimír Král – Illustrator
Zhao Li – Illustrator
Zsolt Lukács – Illustrator
Zuzana Hlavatá – Illustrator
Zuzana Šebelová – Illustrator
Adam Peciar – Mechanic, Design engineer
Andrea Kalinová – Visual artist
Andrea Lašutová – Graphic designer
Andrea Makýšová Volárová – Editor
Andrea Pézman – Artist, Lector at AFAD
Aneta Brašeňová – Graphic artist
Anna Grusková – Author
Anna Šobáňová – Doctor
Balázs Vojtek – IT specialist
Barbara Brath – Art historian, Curator, Publicist
Barbara Nováková – Film promotion
Barbara Sigmundová – Translator
Barbora Fandelová – Online marketing specialist
Barbora Joríková – Economist
Beata Jablonská – Art historian
Beata Suchá –
Boris Meluš – Graphic designer
Branislav Čavoj – Manager
Branislav Matis – Graphic designer
Dada Maierova – Nurse
Dana Cipárová – Psychologist
Danica Tyková – Artist, Sculptor
Dávid Dziak – University teacher, Literary scientist and Writer
Denisa Havrľová – Teacher
Dusan Sadlon – Architect
Dušan Godár – Retiree
Eva Dušenková – Art historian, Medalist
Eva Mazáková – Educational group guide
Eva Piarová – Book editor
Gabriela Ondrišáková – Curator
Hana Skljarszka – Creative industries professional
Ida Želinská – Co-Founder of TOTO! je galéria
Ivan Páleník – Designer
Ivana Laučíková – Director of animated movies
Iveta Hochmuthová – Doctor
Jakub Cvach – Fan
Ján Huňady – Graphic artist, Visual artist, Teacher
Ján Kralovič – University teacher VŠVU, Art historian
Ján Pček – Writer
Ján Šicko – Artist and Teacher
Ján Triaška – Visual artist
Jana H. Hoffstädter – Publisher
Jana Juráňová – Writer
Jana Rusova – Project manager
Jana Vicenová – Redactor
Jano Viazo – Photographer
Jarmila Szabová – Economist
Jaroslav Matuščák – Architect
Joanna Kozuch – Animated film director
Julia Stopková – on maternity leave
Julo Nagy – Designer, Artist
Juraj Gašpar – Backoffice worker
Katarina Antalová – Architect
Katarína Aulitisová – Puppeteer
Katarína Šimončičová – Environmentalist
Katarína Vido – Visual artist and Teacher
Kristína Hečková – Artist
Laura Uhliarová – Teacher
Lívia Kožušková – Graphic designer
Ľubica Lacinová – Biophysicist
Ľubica Pavlovičová – Retiree
Lucia Halová – Translator
Lukáš Cabala – Writer
Marek Adamov – Cultural event organizer
Marek Konecny – Copywriter
Marek Vadas – Writer
Mária Michalková – Pharmaceutical laboratory technician
Mária Rojko – Book designer and Co-Founder of TOTO! je galéria
Markéta Šnébergerová v woman on maternity leave
Marta Weberová – Teacher
Martin Smerek – Architect
Martina Figusch Rozinajová – Book designer
Michaela Chmelickova – Designer
Michaela Kučová – Cultural journalist
Michaela Syrová – Artist, Art theorist
Michal Šumichrast – visual artist
Milena Šubrtová – University lecturer, Literary critic
Miriam Dubovská – reader
Miroslava Urbanová – curator
Monika Kraslová – computer graphic designer
Natália Zavaďáková – Artist
Pavel Gregor Uličiansky – Artist and Architect
Pavol Megyesi – Artist
Peter Gála – Graphic designer
Peter Gärtner – Writer, Publisher, Puppeteer
Peter Kopecky – Architect
Peter Kozmon – Cameraman
Peter Michalík – Publisher
Peter Uličný – Teacher
Peter Valent – Art colector
Petra Baslíková – Teacher of art class, elementary school
Petra Bosanska – Photography & Design
Petra Fürst – Artist
Romana Štangová – Project manager
Silvia Rybárová – Literary scientist
Silvia Sedláčková – on maternity leave
Štefan Cipár – Lawyer
Tereza Horváthová – Publisher
Věra Veselá – Manager
Veronika Kolejáková – Artistic director of DPOH
Veronika Weberová – Artist and Teacher
Viera Böttcher – Communications manager
Viliam Mikóczi – retiree
Vladimír Cipár – Lawyer
Vladimír Čavoj – Doctor
Vladimír Molnár – Teacher
Zuzana Bargerová – Cultural manager
Zuzana Dobrovičová – Artist
Zuzana Drábeková – Translator
Zuzana Golianová – Cultural publicist, Author
Zuzana Ivašková – Cultural strategist
Zuzana Liptáková – Graphic designer
Zuzana Uličianska – Cultural manager