When I met Helder da Silva by chance one day, he told me of his illustrations for a collection of seven children's tales that's very close to his heart. The aim of these books is to introduce youngsters to cultures with different ways of life, and each ethno tale is being produced alongside a scientific publication by anthropologists and financed by Geneva's La fondation culturelle Musée Barbier-Mueller.
What was the inspiration?
Before working on a story, I do the layout of the scientific book with the anthropologist, his photos and documents and the anedotes are a great source of inspiration.
Helder da Silva, Laurence Mattet, and author Jean-Marie Hosatte (Tooksipa and Tarara) at the vernissage of the exhibition of drawings from Tooksipa et le tabouret d'or at the Natural History Museum in 2017
When did you start working on this series?
It's been about ten years since Mrs. Laurence Mattet, Director of the Fondation Culturelle Musée Barbier-Mueller, came up with the concept and together we've produced 7 children's stories based on 7 studies.
What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
Time - deadlines are very tight for the creation and realization of the drawings.
What's your favorite product and why?
Tooksipa et le Tabouret d'Or (Tooksipa and the Golden Stool), a tale inspired by the Gan of Burkina Faso, highlights the terrible plight of albinos in Africa, and was sponsored by Mr. Salif Keita, who honored us by attending the book launch party.
Where can we buy it, and at what price?
The books are available at the Barbier-Mueller Museum, on the Lola l'aventurière website, or from post offices in French-speaking Switzerland, until December 2024, at a price of CHF 19.50.
The 7 books in the ethno-tale series (in French only)
- Oket et l'oiseau géant: Mythe des Indiens Kayapo
- Gazourou et l'Esprit de la forêt: Inspiré d’un conte kouya de Côte d’Ivoire
- Bada et la Déesse Dragon: Basé sur un mythe des plongeuses jamnyo de Corée du Sud
- Sona Lamu petite fille intrépide du lac Lugu: Dans un village du peuple Na de la province du Sichuan en Chine
- Ménuka et les Esprits de la Nuit: Dans une vallée reculée du Népal
- Tarara des Kiribati: Elle crée la pierre, l’arbre, la tortue, la pieuvre, les vagues, la lune et le soleil
- Tooksipa et le tabouret d’or: traditions orales en voie de disparition du peuple Gan du Burkina Faso
Helder has kindly offered one of our readers the chance to win a copy of the book of their choice (value CHF 19.50). Delivery to a Swiss address only.
Fill out this form and answer this multiple choice question: How many ethno-tales have been written for the Musée Barbier-Mueller series to date?
Only one entry per person and per email is allowed. The competition closes at midnight on Thursday, 12 September 2024. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winner’s name drawn at random by Friday, 13 September 2024. Delivery to a Swiss address only. No cash equivalent of prizes is permitted. The winner will be notified by email.
Musée Barbier-Mueller
10, rue Jean Calvin
1204 Genève
022 312 02 70
Open 365 days a year from 11h-17h
www.barbier-mueller.ch/en/homepage
La fondation culturelle Musée Barbier-Mueller
www.fondation-culturelle-barbier-mueller.org
Ethno-tales of the Fondation Culturelle Musée Barbier-Mueller
www.lolalaventuriere.com
Helder Da Silva and author Adrien Viel at the Théâtre les Salons for the evening on the Chepang du Népal in 2023
Illustrations
If you are interested in contacting Helder da Silva for his artistic illustrative talents as well as graphic design, please check out his website: www.dasilvahelder.com
