Iranian illustrators scoop top honors at Moscow book design fair
Iranian graphic designer Amir Najafi and illustrator Somayeh Mohammadi won top prizes at the Image of the Book competition in Moscow, held annually under the patronage of Russia’s Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications and the Moscow Book Designers and Illustrators Association.
The event, which began in 2008 and went international in 2017, showcases outstanding work in six major categories, including fiction and non-fiction illustration, children’s books, visual storytelling, and new artists, IRNA reported.
This year, Najafi was the sole winner in the Best Book Cover Design category, while ‘Vali,’ illustrated by Mohammadi and written by Marjan Zarifi, clinched the Best Picture Book award.
Najafi, who also serves as art director at Mehrak Publishing, was recognized for his cover designs on a series of children’s titles, including ‘Selfie with Mirza,’ ‘The Winter Without Shazdeh,’ ‘Like My Mother’s Hands,’ and ‘The Boy Who Became a Crow’. All were published by Mehrak, a spin-off imprint of Sureh-Mehr, which gained independent status in 2022.
The winning picture book ‘Vali’ tells the story of a lonely whale who, despite being surrounded by small fish friends, feels overwhelmed and heads to the Pacific Ocean in search of peace. The book has already racked up accolades at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy and the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore.
‘Vali’ was also among the selected works at Illustrofest 7, an international illustration event held recently in Belgrade.
Roughly 1,000 artists from various countries have been honored since Image of the Book opened its doors to global submissions. Iranian illustrators, riding a creative wave in children’s publishing, have continued to make inroads on the international scene.