The Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava is a prestigious international competition and exhibition of original illustrations from children’s books and was founded in 1967. The BIB used to be held every two years at the House of Art but it moved to the more exclusive venue of Bratislava Castle in 2019. The record-breaking number of visitors, more than 47,000, was proof that the organiser made the right decision. Bratislava Castle will again host the Biennial, from 15th October 2021 to 9th January 2022. 

     A commemorative postage stamp has been an inseparable part of the BIB since its foundation. This year it is a presentation of the holder of the Grand Prix BIB 2019 – the Iranian illustrator and painter Hasan Mousavi (*1983). As a child he would play in the blacksmith shop of his father and the figures he created later served him as models for his illustrations of superheroes who want to save the world. Later his focus shifted to illustration and painting. He also began to pursue graphic design, which he studied at Shahid Beheshti University in Karaj (Iran). He has illustrated more than forty children’s books. His work has been displayed in several countries (besides Iran): Germany, Denmark, Japan, the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates and many others. Mousavi received the Grand Prix 2019 for the illustration of his own book, The Boxer, in which he attempted to present a culture of peace to children using dynamic illustrations in bold colours that convey moral messages with a deep impact. 

Viera Anoškinová