30 June 2012 to 5 August 2012

Illustration of a boy in pyjamas from the picture book by Elizabeth Honey.

Image: Elizabeth Honey, illustration from I'm Still Awake, Still, music by Sue Johnson, Allen & Unwin, 2008, gouache on paper. Courtesy of the artist.

Created by the State Library of Victoria, Look! included 112 artworks by leading Australian illustrators including Shaun Tan, Graeme Base, Bob Graham, Gregory Rogers, Ann James, Leigh Hobbs, Ron Brooks and Frané Lessac.

The exhibition featured sketches, drafts, mock-ups, finished artwork and publications as well as multimedia presentations which demonstrated the various stages of developing contemporary Australian picture books. Curator Mike Shuttleworth said "Here are works from Australia’s finest children’s book illustrators. The exquisite images tell many stories, some beautiful, some hilarious, some difficult. They help children to understand their world. They give imaginations fuel to dream."

The exhibition was supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of Australian cultural material across Australia.

Image: Look! The Art of Australian Picture Books Today, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Look! The Art of Australian Picture Books Today, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Look! The Art of Australian Picture Books Today, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Look! The Art of Australian Picture Books Today, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

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