By using colour, shape, movement, and a sense of adventure, Mark Janssen’s illustrations add a bit of sparkle to the stories. He works in a variety of techniques, including detailed pencil drawing or realistic water colours. The illustrator is best-known for his imaginative, colourful pictures. Made with paint on paper, the drawings for these are then digitally combined to create the final image that will appear in the book. Some of his digital prints are constructed from no less than 300 separate drawings!
Winner of Most Beautiful Book Cover 2023
His newest picture book, Home (2023), was recently awarded the prize for the Most Beautiful Book Cover 2023, and forms the point of departure for the exhibition Home on Earth. In the animated images exhibited at the Kunsthal we can see how Moon, a creature from outer space, accidentally lands on earth. After finding him, Ava and her little dog Wolfie take him on a guided tour of their planet: her home. Together they are in awe of the splendour of nature, tough panthers, cheerful birds, and elegant fish. Although Moon seems to be enjoying himself, much to Ava’s sorrow he suddenly disappears. Where did he go? Besides the adventures of Ava and Moon, the exhibition also includes original drawings from earlier books by Janssen, offering an insight into his working process from the very first sketches to the final composition.
KunsthalLAB
You can also get creative yourself at the KunsthalLAB. Here families and children can make their own cover for the picture book Home. In addition you can also let your imagination run wild while working on a colouring sheet designed by Janssen. Inspired by his book Weird (2019), the visitors are asked to create the most bizarre mirror image they can come up with. And of course there will be books as well: in the special reading nook, both young and old can delve into a selection of books by Mark Janssen.
Mark Janssen
Mark Janssen (1974) is a children’s book illustrator and maker of picture books. His art studio is located in his home in Valkenburg aan de Geul. Since graduating from the Maastricht Academy of Arts in 1997, he collaborated on around 500 children’s books. In 2016 he started working on his first autonomous picture book. This was followed by highly-acclaimed titles like Nothing Happened (2016), Island (2018), Weird (2019), and Dreamer (2021). To date, Janssen’s picture books have been translated into 22 different languages.
About your visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip listThe Kunsthal is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. The Kunsthal Café opens half an hour earlier, so you can visit from 9:30 hrs until half an hour after closing time. Check the current opening hours.
Yes, you need to book a ticket with a start time in advance. This also applies if you have a Museum card, Rotterdam pass, or VriendenLoterij VIP Card. This way, you are guaranteed admission and we can ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible. Book your start time.
Yes, with an online ticket, you can visit all the exhibitions that are on display on the date of your visit. You can also stay as long as you like. You are welcome at the Kunsthal from your designated start time until closing time. Book your start time.
In de Kunsthal Rotterdam zijn altijd meerdere wisselende en contrastrijke tentoonstellingen tegelijk te zien. Een volledig overzicht van alle actuele tentoonstellingen vind je op de tentoonstellingspagina.