Reading in Digital - New Interactive Literary Experiences

The Reading in Digital exhibition displays new forms of literary creations  through apps on tablets, computers, and illustrated books.

Digital literary creations have been booming, in recent years, showing an unprecedented creative dynamism. Authors, editors, producers and designers are today seizing the latest technology and using it to produce works of a new genre. After travelling around the world to countries including Germany, China, Korea and Guinea, this exhibition of French apps illustrating new reading experiences, is stopping in Johannesburg, at the Francophone Multimedia Library Dibuka.

The aim of this exhibition is to introduce the use of tablets in a multimedia library by showing the dialogue that exists between traditional paper books and new forms of digital books. The wide selection of apps highlights the existence of quality digital literature with poetic, narrative and creative features. Most of the apps have been chosen for their interactive and critical approach to digital content.

The exhibition presents a variety of reading experiences: graphic novels, gamebooks, puzzles, docu-drama and educational games; while emphasizing the design through accomplished visuals, original soundscapes and surprising interactive scenarios. Some creations are original and only available in digital, some are inspired by existing paper books, while others require the use of a paper book together with a digital device such as augmented reality.

October: Bandes Dessinées in Digital

© Phallaina, Directed by Marietta Ren.  The first "scrolling strip"

In reference to the exhibition The Arts of Comics: French Bande-Dessinée and South African Comics in conversation taking place at the Johannesburg Art Gallery during the month of October, Reading in Digital will be dedicated to all forms of digital comics. The exhibition will feature innovative digital creations such as the first "scrolling strip" Phallaina, an educational app that teaches you a foreign language while reading comics, LinguoZing; a 60 episode-comic specifically created for Instagram Eté; and a historical comic with interactive puzzles, The Portrait of Esther.

November: Youth Literature in Digital

© Oh! The Magic Drawing App, Directed by Louis Rigaud and Anouck Boisrobert.

November will be dedicated to digital creation for the youth, with the aim of showing to parents and children the creative use of digital devices. The exhibition will showcase various children application, such as Oh!, a fun drawing app, Léon, an urban interactive tale inspired by gamebooks, and Nutcracker, a hands-on musical experience at the heart of works by Tchaikovsky and Alexandre Dumas.

Special Guest

Julie Stephen Chheng - Illustrator and augmented reality specialist

© Rain at noon, directed by Julie Stephen Chheng

Julie Stephen Chheng is a Paris-based designer, illustrator and author. Graduated from the Decorative Arts School of Paris, she is engaged in projects in the field of publishing and visual arts that blend state-of-the-art technology and paper. She specialises in virtual reality and has been sharing her work internationally. She wrote several books and apps, including Poems in Pieces, The Adventures of a Village, The Postal Train, and Rain at Noon.

Calendar

Bandes Dessinées in Digital
Wednesday 2 to Thursday 31 October – Alliance Française of Johannesburg

Youth Literature in Digital
Friday 1 to Saturday 30 November – Alliance Française of Johannesburg

"Reading in Augmented Reality"
Panel discussion with Julie Stephen Chheng, visual artist Leigh Leroux, poet Xabiso Vili and Tegan Bristow from Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival
Thursday 31 October at 7pm - Alliance Française of Johannesburg

Professional workshop on innovative art book
Workshop with Julie Stephen Chheng and Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, as part of Novembre Numérique
Friday 1 November at 9am - Tshimologong Precinct

Workshop for children – Augmented reality workshop "Make your own digital card"
Panel discussion & workshop
Saturday 2 November at 10:30am  – Alliance Française of Johannesburg

Story telling for children – Digital Story Time with Lucile Novat
Saturday 16 November at 10:30am – Alliance Française of Johannesburg

Last day of the Reading in Digital exhibition
Saturday 30 November – Alliance Française of Johannesburg

For professionals, teachers and schools

Teachers are welcome to contact Namatai Takaindisa, librarian at Dibuka, and book a visit of the exhibition with their class: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Professionals are welcome to contact Marie Fricout, project coordinator at the French Institute of South Africa, to book a private visit of the exhibition: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Educational files for French teachers will be made available here in a few days.

MORE INFORMATION

> Date:
From Wednesday 2 October until Saturday 30 November

> Venue:
Dibuka Francophone Multimedia Library
At the Alliance Française of Johannesburg
Corner Kerry Road and Lower Park Drive
Parkview, Johannesburg

> Dibuka's opening hours:
Sunday and Monday: closed
Tuesday & Wednesday:   9.30 - 12.30 | 14.00 - 19.30
Thursday: 8.30 - 12.30 | 14.00 - 19.30
Friday: 9.30 - 12.30 | 14.00 - 18.00
Saturday: 9.30 - 13.30

> Admission:
Free entrance

PUBLICITY INFORMATION

The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS)
Mylene Loubiere
T: 011 403 0458
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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