Joke van Leeuwen

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Joke van Leeuwen at her home in Antwerp , January 2008

Joke van Leeuwen (born September 24, 1952 in The Hague ), actually Johanna Rutgera van Leeuwen, is a Dutch author, illustrator and cabaret artist . She is considered to be one of the most important contemporary Dutch authors and has received various national and international awards, including the German Youth Literature Prize in 1988 and the James Krüss Prize for international children's and youth literature in 2013 .

life and work

Van Leeuwen was born in The Hague and studied history, art and graphics in Brussels and Antwerp. As the winner of the prestigious Delft cabaret festival, she presented her own cabaret programs after graduating. With De Appelmoesstraat is different (1978), van Leeuwen made her debut as an author and has written around 60 books to date - for adults as well as for young people and children. She also does the illustrations for many of her books. In the Netherlands, van Leeuwen's books are mainly published by the Querido and Zwijsen publishers.

13 of her books have been translated into German-speaking countries: A house with seven rooms (1983), Magnus drives the subway (1985), Deesje is already doing it (1988), The story of Bobbel, who lived in a mobile home and got rich wanted (1989), If it's not loud, then it is (1990), Viegelchen wants to fly (1999), Prinz Bussel (2002), Weißnich (2005), Years without Amrar (2006), Rissi - The child who knew everything (2006), did you see my sister? (2008), wait a minute - What We See, When We See, and Why (2012) and When My Dad Became a Bush and I Lost My Name (2012). Her books have been translated into German by Hanni Ehlers, Birgit Göckritz, Andrea Kluitmann, Helmut Mennicken, Mirjam Pressler and Marie-Thérèse Schins-Machleidt, Hanni Ehlers being her regular translator with six books translated. In Germany, van Leeuwen's books have been published by Beltz & Gelberg , Gerstenberg Verlag , Hanser , Herold and Sauerländer . In recent years, Gerstenberg Verlag in particular has brought out her books in Germany.

Mit Viegelchen wants to fly (1999), Prinz Bussel (2002), Rissi - The child who knew everything (2006), Wait a minute - What we see, when we see, and why (2012) and When my father became a bush and I lost my name (2012) only five of her books are currently available, all others are out of print. Van Leeuwen's literary work has been translated into a total of 14 languages ​​(German, English, French, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Slovenian, Russian, Danish, Swedish, Japanese, Hebrew, Georgian, Turkish).

Joke van Leeuwen (1986)

Van Leeuwen has received numerous awards for her literary work. Her book, probably best known in Germany, Deesje already does it , received the German Youth Literature Prize in 1988 in the children's book category . As in other of her books, her experimental use of language, typography and illustration is characteristic. Van Leeuwen received nominations for the German Youth Literature Prize in 1986 for Magnus travels the U-Bahn , in 2000 for Viegelchen wants to fly , in 2006 for Weißnich and in 2013 for When my father became a bush and I lost my name . In 2000 she received the Theo Thijssenprijs, endowed with 60,000 euros . In 2002 she was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award . Van Leeuwen also received a Zilveren stylus ten times (1980, 1982, 1989, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009) and a Gouden stylus (1986). In 2013 she received the first ever James Krüss Prize for International Children's and Young Adult Literature.

Her book Viegelchen Willfly was published in 2010 in the Netherlands under the direction of Rita Horst with a budget of four million euros under the title Iep! (international title: Eep! ) filmed. In March 2013, she presented her books for a moment - What we see when we see, and why and When my father turned into a bush and I lost my name at Lit.Cologne , and in September 2013 the same books in the children's and youth program of the 13th International Literature Festival Berlin . As part of this, she was also a member of the jury for The Extraordinary Book award .

Van Leeuwen has been President of the PEN in Flanders since January 2014. In addition to her work as a writer, van Leeuwen works for television and writes plays. She has lived in Antwerp since 2002 .

Literary meaning

For Monika Osberghaus, van Leeuwen’s literary work is as follows:

“The Dutch children's book author and illustrator Joke van Leeuwen doesn't write a new book every year; there is always such a long time in between that one is relieved when something new comes up again. And every time it is really something completely new and at the same time a re-encounter. Joke van Leeuwen does the same with her oeuvre as it does with every single book she publishes: She tells the same story in so many different ways that in the end you don't know exactly which is the real story. But one thing is certain: there are endless possibilities - pleasant and less pleasant - anything can happen, and you always have a choice. The constant story of variation master Joke van Leeuwen is about getting lost and being found, about taking care of and caring for one another, about the happiness of being needed and about the difficult, liberating and cool moment in which this happiness ends. In addition, it is always about the great freedom of decision. Joke van Leeuwen's characters are very relaxed in this regard and always allow themselves a detailed, almost enjoyable back and forth. "

- Monika Osberghaus : FAZ, 2005

Wieland Freund points out the literary diversity of van Leeuwen's literary and illustrative work :

“Talent is unpredictable: impossible to say what Joke van Leeuwen will do next. In the past few years, the multiple award-winning Dutchwoman has published a cardboard picture book, on the pages of which one can only stumble from surprise to surprise, has written a little school of vision as if by the way, and with Rissi - The child that knew everything, the only legitimate follow-up novel Written by Roald Dahl's wonderful Matilda - a wonderfully absurd story about talent in the age of the quiz show, from which there seems to be no way to van Leeuwen's new book with the best of will. Because when my father became a bush and I lost my name tells of war, loss and flight. "

- Wieland Freund : Die Welt , 2012

Martina Wehlte from Deutschlandfunk explained in 2012:

“For the renowned Dutch writer and graphic artist, an inventive, playful use of language and a congenial combination of text and drawing have become characteristic in her three and a half decades of creativity. Just like humor and trying out new perspectives that sharpen the view of what is apparently clear and reveal hidden levels of meaning or manipulative intentions. "

- Martina Wehlte

The jury of the James Krüss Prize for International Children's and Young Adult Literature writes in its award statement:

“Each of her books is a small work of art. The author and illustrator has a terrific command of language and visual means. She switches between the textual and the image level with great ease, playing with the imagery of language and the symbolism of images. As with James Krüss , her work is characterized by a high sense of language and form, by a metaliterary quality of the texts in which she imaginatively wanders through the space of possibilities of literature, and by a great sympathy for her child protagonists. Joke van Leeuwen's books are characterized by a fresh, disrespectful and carefree tone with which she describes childhood as a separate cosmos without idealizing or glorifying it. Her books have a socially critical depth and speak of the author's passionate partisanship for the rights of the child. This also shows the literary relationship between Joke van Leeuwen and James Krüss, who gave the award its name. "

Sybil Countess Schönfeldt stated:

“A woman whose simple words hide the strength of an unshakable one. […] That is Joke van Leeuwen's topic: the child in the middle of the world. The child who has to understand this world. The child who also has to cope with living in this world as if in a foreign country. […] Joke van Leeuwen cannot promise security. Your children in a novel must develop a strength that carries them, and they keep surprising their readers like a magician with new examples, new images, new characters. "

- Sybil Countess Schönfeldt : Süddeutsche Zeitung , 2013

Press review

"Deesje does it" (1987)

“This children's book is laid out like a collage. Comparable to mosaic stones, prose texts, verses and black and white drawings alternate in an entertaining way. The drawings take on an original narrative function. The abundance of perspectives anchored in the drawings - top view, insight, side view, overview - makes it possible to look happily. Although the completely intricate story often becomes surrealistic, it has a common thread. A common thread that makes sense and fun. "

- Renate Sternchen : Die Zeit , 1987

“It's a narrow 130 pages, but in reality a whole cosmos. [...] History can be seen as a basics of raising children. One can feel empowered to join in the praise of slowness and silence. One can admire the ease with which the author plays with fear and horror, with longing and love. And if she thinks that a picture has to replace the words, then she draws it, and does it in a first-class way that you don't see so often in children's literature. "

- Sybil Countess Schönfeldt : Süddeutsche Zeitung , 2013

"Viegelchen wants to fly" (1999)

“A multi-layered, profound children's story about growing up, about the dichotomy between love and care on the one hand and the granting of freedom for development on the other. A children's novel about loving and letting go - equally imaginative in language and visual implementation. The funny and playful drawings illustrate beyond the text. A fantastic children's book, funny, poetic, light and philosophical at the same time. "

- Jury of the German Youth Literature Prize

"Weißnich" (2005)

“ Weißnich is a language trial book - wittily translated by Hanni Ehlers - that encourages copying. Above all, however, Joke van Leeuwen's stories offer an enjoyable, sensual and effortless literary course with a skilful rhythm, even in a rapidly composed layout, a cornucopia full of ideas that show in an imaginative way: This is how stories work. "

- Jury of the German Youth Literature Prize

“Joke van Leeuwen […] opens a bouquet of ideas that is enough for thirty books. With the help of the magic formula »Once upon a time«, Weißnich and the boy get into stormy and windless stories, into science fiction stories and fables, stories with gaps and those that burst. But the surprise bag not only collects conceivable beginnings, it also contains a kaleidoscope of painting and picture styles, ranging from comics to photo albums. […] It is obvious that Joke van Leeuwen, born in 1952, studied graphics and history, that her curtain-open-curtain-close technique comes from her long experience in theater and cabaret. And so the language test book is also an exciting flood of images full of puzzles and creative suggestions. "

- Konrad Heidkamp : Die Zeit , 2005

“The Dutch picture book artist Joke van Leeuwen juggles wonderfully with drawings, photos, colors - and letters. […] The stories and images have a double bottom; they speak of the pleasure in telling stories and of the longing for security. Magical. "

- Andrea Huber : Die Welt , 2005

"Years Without Amrar" (2006)

"Joke van Leeuwen has succeeded in creating a precise portrait that goes beyond the description of an individual family fate."

- Gabriele Kossack : FAZ , 2006

“History can be learned from non-fiction books, but stories are more deeply memorized. Especially when great writers tell them like the multiple award-winning Dutchwoman Joke van Leeuwen. For her, she brought in a co-author, Malika Blain from Morocco, whose family Joke van Leeuwen had been in contact with for many years as a member of Amnesty International and on whose stories and testimonies the novel is based - history as a basis for stories. "

- Hilde Elisabeth Menzel : Die Zeit , 2006

“On the one hand, this book portrays the Moroccan family and shows in a loving way how the individual members deal with the situation, but above all stick together. The specialty lies in the spelling: simple sentences, funny dialogues and honest trains of thought are as simple as they are moving. Shocking and funny at the same time, the fate of Zima and her family carries the reader with it and incidentally provides information about a difficult and eventful time in Morocco. "

- Nora Lenzen : Süddeutsche Zeitung , 2006

"Rissi, the child who knew everything" (2006)

“Refreshingly funny and at the same time full of depth, Joke van Leeuwen tells of the (un) secret longing to be something special. It's about big issues. About knowing and not knowing, about making mistakes, about looking at famous people and, last but not least, about an honest look at yourself. […] Joke van Leeuwen gives us a look behind the scenes of life on stage. Secrets, nocturnal fears, the strenuous balancing act between appearance and reality - and deeply in the heart of the desire to be loved by your parents just as you are. "

- Cordula Gerndt : FAZ , 2006

"Wait a minute - what we see when we see and why" (2012)

“In her wonderful school of vision, the Dutchwoman undertakes a playful foray through the history of what is probably our most important cultural technique. From Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper to photos of Putin, from antique plastic to brightly colored comics : the illustrator traces the question of how our perception is constructed - and manipulated - across the centuries. How can you depict feelings with just a few lines? How do light and shadow, perspective and detail change the effect of a picture? The 13 chapters change our view of the world. "

- aba : Die Welt , 2012

"When my father became a bush and I lost my name" (2012)

“Something strange oozes threateningly from every line. Reading material for children? But yes! The Dutch Joke van Leeuwen has achieved a masterpiece here. In simple language, she tells of fear and being lost - without straining. Her imaginative, perky main character makes us cry when she longs for normality, and laugh when she imagines enemy and enemy, disguised as bushes, sitting helplessly opposite each other. Joke van Leeuwen says her story has 'both feet on the ground' - perhaps because she and her family have repeatedly taken in refugees, because they are concerned about what homelessness means. "

- Annemarie Schickert : Die Zeit , 2012

“The fact that such scenes can be described with brutal directness on the one hand and, on the other hand, still bearable is due solely to Joke van Leeuwen's childish narrator, who on the one hand lacks the rhetorical means to talk around the bush and which, on the other hand, is by its very nature of literally disarming openness. "

- Monika Osberghaus : FAZ , 2005

“The Dutchwoman Joke van Leeuwen is not only one of the most original, but also one of the most courageous children's book authors today. […] Joke van Leeuwen understands the art of letting the tension grow into the unbearable in a confined space. Even if Toda gets away scot-free, she is not spared to be guilty. This book has nothing to do with the trivial rubric of the encouragement books. Here we are dealing with existential writing: Joke van Leeuwen grabs the fear of her readers by the head. Precisely because they often need courage to read on, the book conveys courage to live. "

- Sieglinde Geisel : NZZ , 2012

“A parable story about a war that tore a family apart, about refugees, escape routes, being elsewhere and being different, told from the perspective of a girl. Neither a specific country nor any causes are named, there is no partiality other than personal ties, the foreign language is an artificial one - a very unusual perspective that allows one to concentrate on the essentials, namely human relationships. Absurd and true at the same time - a very successful contribution to a highly topical topic. "

- Heike Brandt : Kulturradio , 2012

“Joke van Leeuwen did the trick of writing a book to laugh and cry, to cheer and reflect on. A smart book about the war that is far away and yet so close. A book that children understand. And even adults. "

- Ralf Mielke : Berliner Zeitung , 2012

“The Dutch author Joke van Leeuwen and her translator Hanni Ehlers earned a prize for the most accurate description of a delicate situation: the mood of eight-year-old Toda in the story As mine for the phrase 'Outside the sun pretended we were doing well' Father became a bush and I lost my name . […] At the same time, thanks to the naive, thoroughly honest narrative style, the story contains a delicate ironic note that little Toda may not be aware of, but the more experienced readers certainly do. Without artificial dramatization, the fear, worldview and hopes of a child are revealed, no matter where they live. "

- Siggi Seuss : Süddeutsche Zeitung , 2013

“The child-like first-person narrator has the experience of being someone from somewhere else, whom one meets with suspicion, open hostility or fake friendliness, because of a war that forces her to leave her home. The consistently persistent childlike worldview and the straightforward, sober language make the absurdity of the event clear, which was settled in a fictional, at the same time timeless and placeless space. The protagonist calls things by their names and takes the names literally. By subverting euphemisms, emotional pathos and imagery, it torpedoes the improper speech of adults. In their revealing naivety and relentless concreteness, the author's illustrations seem to follow a similar strategy. In this way the horror is also comicized, some descriptions trigger a laugh that gets stuck in the throat. Joke van Leeuwen has succeeded in creating a completely unprepossessing parable against the war, which convinces through the tense combination of sensual concreteness and symbolic condensation. A multi-layered text that - especially with regard to the comedy and language - allows for different readings. "

- Jury of the German Youth Literature Award 2013

“Joke van Leeuwen is an unusual writer and her new children's novel, When my father grew up and I lost my name, doesn't offer 'light fare' despite the colorful cover design. [...] War, the loss of one's homeland and the mother tongue are complex topics that are not uncommon in children's literature. But Joke van Leeuwen approaches the topic in a way that at least at first glance irritates. The reader cannot guess what war it is about and also not where the action finally takes place. Neither the illustrations nor the language in the exile home provide any clues. But that is precisely what defines the novel, as it offers the opportunity to think in general about war and the loss of homeland and language. […] When my father became a bush and I lost my name is a difficult, irritating and at the same time poetic children's book that underlines the potential of children's literature. "

- Jana Mikota : Fachverband Deutsch, 2013

Publications

Nominations / Awards

year Award excellent book comment
1980 Zilveren stylus A house with seven rooms
1982 Zilveren stylus Magnus is on the subway
1986 Nomination for the German Youth Literature Prize in the children's book category Magnus is on the subway
1986 Gouden stylus Deesje does it
1986 Zilveren Penseel Deesje does it
1987 Lynx of the month in November Deesje does it
1988 German youth literature award in the children's book category Deesje does it
1989 Zilveren stylus We started all the time, now it really begins
1993 Zilveren stylus Niet wiet, wel nel
1996 Zilveren stylus Ik ben ik
1997 Woutertje Pieterse Prijs Viegelchen wants to fly
1997 Golden owl Viegelchen wants to fly
1997 Zilveren stylus Viegelchen wants to fly
1999 Woutertje Pieterse Prijs Years without Amrar
1999 Zilveren stylus Prince Bussel
2000 Nomination for the German Youth Literature Prize in the children's book category Viegelchen wants to fly
2000 Theo Thijssenprijs Complete works Endowment: € 60,000
2002 Nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Award Complete works
2005 Lynx of the month in February Do not know
2005 Book of the month by the Institute for Youth Literature in May Do not know
2005 Zilveren stylus Waarom a buitenboordmotor eenzaam is
2006 Nomination for the German Youth Literature Prize in the children's book category Do not know
2006 The best 7 books for young readers in May Rissi - the child who knew everything
2007 Recommendation of the jury of the Catholic Children's and Young People's Book Prize Years without Amrar Recommended along with 14 other books, there was no winner this year
2007 Book puppy at the book lion Did you see my sister
2007 Zilveren stylus Did you see my sister
2009 List of recommendations by the Luchs jury in June Did you see my sister
2009 Secondary prize at the AKO Literatuurprijs Everything nieuw
2009 Zilveren stylus Wait a minute - what we see, when we see, and why
2012 Constantijn Huygensprijs Life's work
2013 Nomination for the German Youth Literature Prize When my dad became a bush and I lost my name
2013 James Krüss Prize for International Children's and Youth Literature Life's work Jury: Roswitha Budeus-Budde, Robert Elstner, Emer O'Sullivan, Michael Schmitt, Christiane Raabe
2013 AKO Literatuurprijs Feest van het begin Endowment: € 50,000

Other awards:

  • 1980: Gouden Penseel, for Een huis met zeven kamers
  • 1995: C. Buddingh'-prijs, Laatste lezers
  • 1999: Libris Woutertje Pieterseprijs, for Bezoekjaren
  • 1999: Jany Smelik Ibby-prijs for Bezoekjaren
  • 2004: The Best 7 Books for Young Readers, for Kweenie
  • 2005 .. Plantin-Moretusprijs, for Waarom een ​​buitenboordmotor eenzaam is
  • 2007: Herman de Coninckprijs, for Andermans Hond
  • 2007: Gouden Penseel, for Heb je mijn zuje gezien
  • 2010: Gouden Ganzenveer, for the complete works

Theatrical performances

  • 2012: Weißnich at the Pfütze Theater in Nuremberg, premiere: December 11th
  • 2013: Deesje is already doing this at the Schauspielhaus Hamburg , premiere: February 3rd
  • 2013: Prince Bussel at the Semperoper in Dresden as opera, premiere: April 27th, music: Johannes Wulff-Woesten , director: Valentina Simeonova, title role sung by Gala El Hadidi

Festival participation

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ James Krüss Prize goes to Joke van Leeuwen
  2. ↑ tzum.info
  3. ↑ Monika Osberghaus: I don't know who I am . In: FAZ , March 16, 2005
  4. ↑ Wieland Freund: That's how it is when you have to flee . In: Die Welt , August 11, 2012
  5. ↑ Martina Wehlte: Why we literally see things wrong sometimes - two books by the Dutch writer Joke van Leeuwens . Deutschlandfunk , July 21, 2012
  6. ↑ James Krüss Prize goes to Joke van Leeuwen
  7. ↑ Sybil Countess Schönfeldt : The child in the midst of the world . In: Süddeutsche Zeitung , August 9, 2013, p. 30
  8. ↑ Renate Sternchen: Lynx 14 . In: Die Zeit , No. 46/1987
  9. ↑ Sybil Countess Schönfeldt : The child in the midst of the world . In: Süddeutsche Zeitung , August 9, 2013, p. 30
  10. ↑ djlp.jugendliteratur.org
  11. ↑ djlp.jugendliteratur.org
  12. ↑ Konrad Heidkamp: Once upon a time - and other strange beginnings . In: Die Zeit , No. 7/2005
  13. ↑ Andrea Huber: In a nutshell . In: Die Welt , June 11, 2005
  14. ↑ Gabriele Kossack: When the big brothers were missing . In: FAZ , September 16, 2006
  15. ^ Hilde Elisabeth Menzel: Revolution in the sky-blue cupboard . In: Die Zeit , No. 16/2006
  16. ↑ Nora Lenzen: Years without Amrar . In: Süddeutsche Zeitung , April 28, 2006
  17. ↑ Cordula Gerndt: Money, mud or love . In: FAZ , March 15, 2006
  18. ↑ Come on, let's get an idea . In: Die Welt , April 7, 2012
  19. ↑ Schickert: Hide me! How do you tell children about war and flight? So! In: Die Zeit , No. 47/2012, p. 50
  20. ↑ Monika Osberghaus: I don't know who I am. In: FAZ , March 16, 2005
  21. ↑ Sieglinde Geisel: Grabbing Fear - "When my father became a bush" - Joke van Leeuwen's extraordinary children's novel . In: NZZ , July 7, 2012
  22. ↑ Heike Brandt: Reading - Joke van Leeuwen: "When my father became a bush and I lost my name" . ( Memento of the original from June 26, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Kulturradio , November 7, 2012 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.kulturradio.de
  23. ↑ Ralf Mielke : Don't worry! In: Berliner Zeitung , September 19, 2012
  24. ↑ Siggi Seuss: ++ Joke van Leeuwen's story of war through the eyes of a child . Süddeutsche Zeitung , July 16, 2013, accessed on August 14, 2020 . .
  25. ↑ When my father became a bush and I lost my name . djlp.jugendliteratur.org
  26. ↑ Jana Mikota: German Youth Literature Prize 2013 - nominations in the “Children's Book” category . Fachverband Deutsch, May 6, 2013
  27. ↑ Lynx. In: Die Zeit , No. 29/2008
  28. ↑ James Krüss Prize goes to Joke van Leeuwen
  29. ↑ nos.nl
  30. ↑ theater-pfuetze.de  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.theater-pfuetze.de  
  31. ↑ schauspielhaus.de
  32. ↑ t-online.de
personal data
SURNAME Leeuwen, Joke van
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Dutch writer
DATE OF BIRTH September 24, 1952
PLACE OF BIRTH The hague