A Magia das Linhas: O Mundo Maravilhoso dos Livros Ilustrados de Serge Bloch

I Love Kindergarten was created by Serge Bloch due to the anxiety and unease his youngest son Léon felt before going to kindergarten. The book is entirely from Léon's perspective, recounting everything that happened on his first day at kindergarten. Serge Bloch captures the rollercoaster of emotions a three-year-old kid experiences when facing the world alone for the first time. By telling such a story of a neighbourhood child, he aims to evoke emotional resonance among children of the same age, helping them overcome their fears of starting kindergarten and adapt to new environments, also assisting parents in alleviating their anxieties. 

This book is both entertaining and reassuring, as Serge tells children about their first big adventure in life: starting school. Young readers will witness the various events of a day at kindergarten: playing games, taking naps, visiting the cafeteria, engaging in playtime, where they can run around and, most importantly, shout out loud... Besides, there are friends, adults on the staff, and rules to follow... All of these are presented in a lively and vibrant manner, with both text and illustrations filled with humour, allowing children to laugh about a topic that sometimes frightens them and to face this early stage of life with adults in a gentle way

 

 

This section integrates content from two of Serge's picture books: Sam and His Dad and Saturday, presenting a joyful and amusing depiction of ordinary family life.

Sam and His Dad is the companion piece to‘I Love Kindergarten’, created by Serge as a token of gratitude for the birth of his eldest son, Sam, which bestowed upon him the identity of a‘father’. Sam's dad is an artist, and Sam's life is full of creativity, exploration and adventure. Serge Bloch's semi-autobiographical picture book shows us life through Sam's eyes, as he plays with his little brother, goes to the park, visits a farm, goes on holiday – all in the company of the long-suffering but affectionate Dad he loves so much. Using his signature humour, Serge depicts the small details from a child's perspective, capturing the everyday moments of father-and-son life.

Written by Ian Rendler and illustrated by Serge, Saturday is a humorous picture book that depicts a boy immersed in the joy of the weekend. The innocent boy is unaware of the burden he brings to his parents, which evokes laughter. As Saturday draws to a close, the boy declares, ‘Tomorrow is Sunday, and we can play again!’The text and illustrations in the book form an interesting contrast, with retro-style pencil drawings and simple digital illustrations perfectly matching the innocence of the young protagonist

 

 

This is the break between classes! Just like every day's break... Another fight breaks out!
Bang! Crack! Snap! Ouch!
But how did it all start?

The Art of Fighting is a masterpiece by Davide Cali and Serge Bloch, created for children, that explores the inevitable conflicts between people in a format that children can understand. From the days when our ancestors fought over a mammoth to today's fight over a four-colour ballpoint pen, this pseudo-encyclopaedia tells us that fighting has its own culture, customs, combatants, and even rules.

Adults often forget that they were naughty themselves when they were kids. In fact, all children have been in a fight before. Fighting can also be a form of communication among children, a way to release emotions, find solutions in conflicts, and establish boundaries... This ability is precisely the core competency we should possess when facing complex social relationships as adults. The Art of Fighting, being both entertaining and non-preachy, triggering deep thinking in children.

Fighting is not war, and war is not fighting. The art of fighting lies in not using fighting to resolve hatred. This rhythmic picture book also teaches us: When fighting is no longer a game, it should stop.

 

When We Grow Old is written by Susie Morgenstern and illustrated by Serge Bloch.

This is a story about an elderly lady who has been so busy throughout her life that she hasn't noticed the passage of time. Now, alone, she looks at herself in the mirror: her face is etched with stories. While boiling potatoes, she reminisces about the past... Fragments of her entire life unfold before our eyes. Susie Morgenstern, with her warm and humane style, continuously engages young readers in conversation, uncovering tender and perceptive insights into human intimacy:‘And you? What stories are written on your face? Have you had difficult days? Do you sometimes feel lonely?’Through the connections between generations, strong and rich human bonds are woven.

 

Serge has a magical book called 3,2,1…DRAW! Serge is always adept at combining everyday object photographs with lined drawings to express his unique humour. In this book, he uses a total of 50 close-up shots to bring this modern creative approach to its fullest potential. Unlike other books, this is an‘unfinished’work, a creative picture book with‘missions’that requires the reader's personal participation. It demonstrates the infinite possibilities of picture books, and whenever adults or children open this book, the creative magic box in their minds seems to open automatically. We'd probably all love this more than an art class.

‘The Curator of Magic’section has put together a range of props, encouraging everyone to step into the role of curator themselves. Get ready for the exciting chemistry between pots and pans, along with Serge's lines in everyone's hands. Are you ready? 3, 2, 1… PLAY

 

 

Blagues de Toto is a collection of humorous comic strip stories created by Serge Bloch, often set in school and family environments. The protagonist is a child named Toto, who is mischievous and always full of whimsical ideas. He often causes many laugh-out-loud jokes at school or at home.

What else could Toto’s red nose be like in your understanding?
Challenge your imagination and give it a whole new image.

 

 

In Paris, Serge teamed up with theatre actors to create a captivating experience that synchronised live drawing with theatrical performances, resulting in a mesmerising shadow play. At the Laboratoire des Jeux de l'Ombre, he further delves into the art of shadow tricks, turning lines into shapes and using shadows to convey a wide array of movements and facial expressions. He invites the audience to take part in a whimsical‘battle of shadows’alongside his lines.

 

 

From February to March 2020, Serge showcased a solo exhibition titled‘Laughing Boxes’at Le Centquatre-Paris. This unique exhibition blended illustrations, installations, sound, and augmented reality (AR) imagery, offering boundless joy to the French audience. For this exhibition, we have brought Serge's‘Laughing Boxes’from Paris to Macao, presenting the collision between line art and a circus, with interactive elements such as mystery boxes, a horror saw, a feast of gluttony, and a face-changing photo booth. It feels like a delightful circus right at your doorstep, inviting everyone on a whimsical journey filled with French humour.

 

 

The section presents‘Lines Gone Wild’, an AR animation inspired by Serge's line art, which has become a crowd favourite during his global tours. By utilising interactive technology,‘Lines Gone Wild’captures human emotions through the lens of a smartphone, creating dynamic and humorous images that reflect our real-world selves.