ASIL – We have to talk… about comics a illustration
Comics vs. illustration
Where does illustration end and comics begin? Or rather, what actually distinguishes them? And is there even a clear boundary between the two? This discussion connects two closely related, yet often differently perceived worlds of visual storytelling. We will explore how the work of an illustrator differs from that of a comics author, from thinking about the image itself, through working with time and narrative, to the specific “language” each of these forms requires. We will also open practical questions: what challenges sequential storytelling brings, where illustration offers greater freedom, and where, on the contrary, it demands greater precision. The speakers will share their own professional experiences and reveal how they balance between these approaches, or consciously combine them.
Debate: Ďuro Balogh a Viliam Slaminka
Moderator: Kristína Soboň
Asil
ASIL – The Association of Illustrators is a voluntary, open association of visual artists focused on illustration and book creation. Its aim is to map current developments in illustration and book culture. It creates a comprehensive yet open database of diverse forms of Slovak illustration in the work of both renowned and emerging illustrators. Among other things, it facilitates communication between publishers, writers, and illustrators, and presents members of the association at domestic and international book forums.
Ďuro Balogh
Ďuro was born in 1975 in Bratislava. He studied graphic design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (1993–1999) in the studio of Ľubomír Longauer, where he later worked for several years as an assistant. For several years, he worked as an art director in an advertising agency. Later, he became a freelancer, which he remains to this day, working as a graphic designer and illustrator, mainly, though not exclusively, of children’s books. He also focuses on portrait caricature and advertising illustration. He is a member and co-founder of the Association of Illustrators. He has illustrated around twenty children’s books (e.g. Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking / Daniel Dušek’s Pištáčik / Gabriela Futová’s Nejdem a Basta, Lepší otec v hrsti, ako kamoš na streche, Hľadám lepšiu mamu, Psia škola kocúra červenochvosta / Jozef Raýman’s Náš brat Hlavička / Toňa Revajová’s Johanka zo Zapadáčiku, Zlom väz Johanka, Tvoja Johanka, Johankina veľká rodina / Dana Mašlejová’s Kráľovskí agenti / Peter Gärtner’s Radostná správa, Lasica a Satinský v komikse, Deň Radosti, the continuation of the comics about Lasica and Satinský, Depešáci / Branislava Kardošová’s Traja kamoši a fakticky napínavý príbeh.
In the field of graphic design, he has created numerous company logos as well as several corporate identities and book designs. He also works in advertising as a storyboard artist. He lives and works in Stupava.
Web: ASIL
Viliam Slaminka
Viliam (1985) is a visual artist who studied painting and other media at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava. Alongside his independent artistic practice, he works with illustration, comics, and teaching. His works humorously reflect social and gender stereotypes. He processes outwardly serious themes with childlike playfulness through a simple and accessible visual language. His work communicates numerous pop-culture references and meanings. Paintings of various sizes and shapes often function as building blocks for variable installations whose composition and meaning can freely change depending on the thematic context. Audience participation is also an important part of his work, as he engages viewers through playful interactive projects.
IG: viliamslaminka
Kristína Soboň
She studied illustration in the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava/Slovakia. After school, she completed an internship at the Miroslav Šašek Foundation and Baobab Publishing House in Prague. She works as the head of the Slovak Illustrators Association – ASIL. She currently works as an art editor for the oldest Slovak children’s magazine – Slniečko. In addition, she collaborates with the young Slovak publishing house Monokel.
IG: kristina_sobon_illustration
