Press

8 Questions for HOU MINGLIANG(侯明亮), founder of IlluSalon
SD Original, November 30. 1999
Mr Hou, what have you been busy working on lately?
People often say that you know your destiny when you get to 50. So currently, my key thoughts and every individual action I take based on theses thoughts revolve around the cultural sector and the content industry. This is perhaps my fortune and destiny. Specifically, there are these few things that have made me feel that there is focus value: The first is the design and construction of the global illustrator resources platform - IlluSalon; the second is how to operate and maintain, on an all-round basis and for the whole process, the "Global Illustration Award" jointly established by the Frankfurt Book Fair and the International Information Content Industry Association (ICIA); and the third is how to use the ISLI international standards to identify and construct the global illustrator resources platform and the Global Illustration Award to establish their relevant industry standards.
You were in charge of Children's Fun Publishing for many years. Is your current work still related to children's publishing?
Very much connected. Let me put it this way: working on children's publishing at Children's Fun was "dot", but now it is "plane and line". I am now standing at a wider territory to provide services to the children's publishing industry. The global illustrator services platform - IlluSalon is precisely focused on and benefit from the very core of children's publication - the content product, will do all it can to upgrade the quality of the content product.
How do you regard the current development of China's children's book market?
I can say without exaggeration that there is enormous potential and unlimited business opportunities. This view stems from five considerations: The centuries old traditional concept of "scholarly pursuit is the noblest ideal" is continually being activated; there is still relatively large room for growth in the Chinese economy; the onset of the peak in births; the government's nationwide reading campaign is on-going without any signs of abating; and paper and digital publishing have been complementary, eliminating numerous hindrances to reading.
What do you think are the biggest difficulties and challenges in Chinese-foreign publishing cooperation?
I was a special guest at the Frankfurt Book Fair last year, and I gave a speech on this topic. In a nutshell, difficulties and challenges are related to the following key words: team selection and who has the louder voice; strategic design of the platform; effective integration of the resources of both cooperating parties; and business planning roadmap and focus points at various stages along the way.
May I know if you have participated in the StoryDrive Conference in the past? What is your impression?
I have, and it was great. StoryDrive has grasped the core elements of the content product. The current most popular topic, IP, is a story. The foundation of the culture and publishing industry is everlasting; being separated from a good story would be unimaginable.
What are your thoughts on the illustration exhibition at the StoryDrive exhibition booth?
Illustration is not simply a core element of the content product, it has also become increasingly involved in the realm of everyday life, becoming a way of life.
More 50 works will be exhibited in this illustration exhibition. These are selected from over a thousand pieces of work from some 50 professional illustrators from more than 20 countries around the world. At the exhibition area, we will have professionals who will introduce the illustrators and explain the stories behind the illustrated works, sharing the international art of illustration, as well as the wide applications of illustration.
Do you have a favorite illustrator? Why?
The global illustrator resources platform is all about professionalism and leading edge. Therefore, when we enter into agreements with illustrators, more value is placed on their originality in creativity, uniqueness in idea conception, intriguing subject selection, boldness in expression, and manifestation of personality. Every word, almost every illustrator is that "classic" individual; he or she cannot be replicated. For instance, Nezzar who is skilled in realism, Iran's Muhammad who is the master of the black-and-white world, Germany's Volkmar who performs, plays and sings and who has a distinct personality, Lithuania's Zavadskis who is skilled in character modeling, as well as as Italy's Rosa, with her light water colors full of poetic imagery. Their works are a world in a flower, with long-lasting taste!
It can be said then that you are an old friend of the Frankfurt Book Fair? May I know if you still have plans to take part in the book fair this year?
That's right, the Frankfurt Book Fair and I are old friends, and all-round partners. Whether as an expert of the Frankfurt Book Fair's global YA expert committee or the operator of the current Global Illustration Award, I am very honored and happy to be able to work on this great project together with the world's largest book industry platform.
I'm not only going to participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair this year. There are also lots of business activities in and outside the Fair. In particular, the Global Illustration Award we are hosting together with the Frankfurt Book Fair will definitely be a dazzling event. I am looking forward to that!
IlluSalon and ICIA will be exhibiting at the StoryDrive Collective Stand in Beijing (28 May -1 June 2016).
Translation: Cheang Yee