Yara Kono

Kolibrí Festivaali proudly presents the guest of honour 2018, YARA KONO, from Portugal

Yara Kono was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, into a family of Japanese origin. She studied pharmaceutics and biochemistry. During her years of study she was drawing scientific drawings, which started to interest her much more than the actual studies. So she took over evening classes on design and communications. In the year 2001 Kono travelled to Portugal, where she started to work as a graphic designer. At that time already the connection of digital design, combined with round and dynamic lines in her work was visible. In the year 2004 Kono started to work with an editor called Planeta Tangerina, where she had the chance to realize her own illustrations more than before. The first book she illustrated “Ovelhinha Dá-me Lã” won an honorable mention in the Compostela awards. In 2010 “O Papão no Desvão”, a book with Kono´s illustrations won the national Portuguese award (Premio Nacional de Ilustração), for the best picture book. At the moment Yara Kono is considered one of the most promising of the new generation of Portuguese illustrators.   

During Kolibrí Festivaali you can get to know Yara Kono´s work in the exhibition Sementes”, which will be held at Kohtaamo (Suomenlahdentie 1, Espoo) from 1st to 13th of October. The exhibition is curated by Ina Fiebig.

Kono will also facilitate several workshops for families and children from 4 to 13 years.

  • Helsinki: Friday 5th of October at 5pm. Stories in Portuguese with Yara. Oficina de Língua Portuguesa para crianças del CCBF. At: LillaLuckan Simonkatu 8

Activities related to the last books of Yara Kono ”Sata siementä, jotka lensivät pois”, which has just been released in Finnish, and “Batata, chaca, chaca”. These workshops are for the whole family and they will be held at:  

  • Espoo: Saturday 6th of October at the library of Iso Omena
  • Helsinki: Sunday 7th of October at the library of  Malmi

For youth and adults interested in illustration, graphic design and children’s literature:

  • Espoo: Tuesday 2nd of October. A masterclass at Aalto University
  • Helsinki: Wednesday 3rd of October. Annantalo Auditorium a conversation with Kono and the editorial Etana editions

Yara Kono´s visit is enabled by: Direção-Geral do Livro, dos Arquivos e das Bibliotecas, The city of Espoo, The Finnish Illustrators’ Association, Aalto university, The Ibero-American institute of Finland, Brazil-Finland cultural center, Malmitalo, the libraries of Iso Omena and Malmi.

Cultural center Ninho, which produces Kolibrí Festivaali, wants to thank especially the following people: Mª da Assunção Azevedo de Quintanilha e Mendonça, Ina Fiebig, Heli Halme, Sari Airola, Jaana Kanninen, Paula Hecq, Ana Peres, Diego Barros, Gabriela Brasil, Mirka Nokka and Pirjetta Mulari.