Telling a thousand words

While a number of artists often try to escape the urban rat-race for tranquility in the countryside, French illustrator Olivier Tallec revels in being amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Paris. Watching commuters scramble on public transport and locals roam the streets in the city of romance is a source of inspiration for many of his works.

"Sometimes the city can be very noisy. You just have to ignore the noises and concentrate on the things you see. I'm not enduring life in the city, rather I'm quite enjoying it," said Tallec in French via an interpreter ahead of his talk at Beijing's French Alliance last Thursday, an organization that promotes French language and culture. Currently in the thrust of his eight-city tour across China, the prolific illustrator of more than 60 children's books over the past 15 years will also host talks in Wuhan, Shanghai and Guangzhou until Thursday.

"When I was walking on the street just now [in Beijing], I noticed it's such a big city and we are so tiny. [The contrast] is neither pathetic or lonely; it is life and it's fun for me to show such a world," said Tallec, who began his career as an illustrator in 1996 after abandoning his job as a graphic designer that ranged from drawing "pizza boxes to packaging for Procter & Gamble."

Born in 1970 and graduating from the Ecole Supérieure d'Art Graphique in Paris, Tallec is best known for his work in children's literature. His illustrations have also appeared in newspapers such as Le Monde, Libération and Le Nouvel Observateur.

Enjoying popularity both in Europe and Asia, he has been honored with the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration, Mildred L. Batchelder Award Honor and the Vlag en Wimpel Prize.

With his preference for warm colors such as red, pink and blue, he captures the trivial dramas and joys of childhood with his sentimental touches. A talented artist who won't confine himself to one genre, he also flirts with diverse styles, such as drawing neat, simple lines in grand scenes.

His most popular series, Rita et Machin, has sold more than 50,000 copies in France and been translated into 15 languages. The series follows the fun and at times naughty adventures of a girl named Rita and her red-eyed dog. Another series, Michka, sees a toy bear leave its young, headstrong owner and embark on a life in the forest. In The Scar, Tallec touches on a rarely tackled topic in children's literature - the sadness and anger a boy experiences following the death of his mother.

Most of his readers are children aged four to seven, meaning the emphasis is on telling the story through illustrations, not text. "Most children see the pictures first and then read the text. That's why we spend more time on drawing," Tallec explained.

Text and illustrations are like two roads, he added, noting sometimes they run parallel and other times they cross. "They should never drift far from each other. Illustrations should have something to offer that isn't written in the text," he said.