The 52nd Angoulême International Comics Festival, France’s largest comics event, opened on Jan. 30. Following its opening, the Taiwan Pavilion launched, featuring 11 Taiwanese comic artists and presenting approximately 130 original works from Taiwan.
Held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, the festival is one of the world’s largest comics exhibitions and trading events. The Taiwan Pavilion’s opening was attended and celebrated by several European publishers and international event curators.
The artist lineup includes Chang Sheng (常勝), Ruan Guang-min (阮光民), Ding Pao-yen (丁柏晏), Rishiazao (日下棗), Hsieh Tung-lin (謝東霖), Yashin (葉馨文), JULAI, Fang Ruei-yi (房瑞儀), Karmarket (藥島), Moonsia, and Pam Pam Liu.
Hao Pei-chih (郝培芝), Taiwan’s representative to France, said that Taiwanese comics have been steadily gaining popularity, noting that “Taiwan being a central theme has been increasingly recognized in France and Europe.”
The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) also organized a launch event to formally introducing Taiwanese comics at the festival, enhancing opportunities for publishers from Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, and others countries.
Didier Pasamonik from France’s comic media outlet ActuaBD remarked that French audiences find Taiwanese comic narration different from Japanese comics, with a more nuanced and sophisticated storytelling style.
Matteo Stefanelli, Italian curator and Bologna Children’s Book Fair jury, identified three key characteristics of Taiwanese comics: a strong focus on contemporary and futuristic themes, outstanding visual design, and a concern with humanities in modern society.