About Émile BRAVO

Born in 1964 in Paris, to a Catalan father who was a refugee from the Spanish Civil War and a Valencian mother he met in France, Émile Bravo immediately strived to tell stories by scribbling on everything that was lying around. Much later, when he realised that it is a profession (called 'comic book author'), he tried his luck and entered this unknown territory. It was with his lifelong accomplice, Jean Regnaud, that he made his first editorial debut with the series Aleksis Strogonov (Dargaud). In the 1990s he joined Atelier Nawak where he shared collective emulation alongside Lewis Trondheim, Christophe Blain, Joann Sfar, David B. and Emmanuel Guibert. He then founded the Vosges workshop, which Marc Boutavant and Marjane Satrapi joined. He launched solo into stories for young people with Les Épatantes Aventures de Jules (Dargaud), the second volume of which earned him the René Goscinny Prize in 2002. From 2004 he produced the series Seven Ours nains (Seuil Jeunesse) and illustrates My mom is in America, she met Buffalo Bill written by Jean Regnaud (2007, Gallimard Jeunesse) who won the Essential Prize in Angoulême in 2008, German Youth Literature Award.

At the same time, Bravo also created numerous illustrations for the press or for novels. In 2006, Dupuis suggested that he create his Spirou in an author's collection, it would be Le journal d'un ingénu (2008), initially thought of as a one-shot. This very personal adventure of Spirou talks about the origin of the character and multiplied the awards: Booksellers' Prize, RTL Grand Prize, Diagonale Prize, Essentiel Prize in Angoulême, ‘Le Peng’ Prize for the best European comic strip. Émile Bravo devoted himself for nine years to following this story. Four volumes will make up this long epic of 330 pages entitled Hope Despite Everything which tells the story of the young bellhop in Brussels under the Nazi Occupation. Very documented, the reality of this work has given rise to an exhibition at the Memorial of Holocaust in Paris in 2023.

About Bonnie PANG
Website: bonniepangart.com | Facebook: Bonniepangart  | Instagram: @bonniepangart

Illustrator and comic artist from Hong Kong.

Graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012, majoring in Geography and Resource Management, minor in Fine Arts. Went to pursue a master’s degree in Fine Arts at the Academy of Arts University, majoring in Illustration. Signed with the artist agency Astound upon graduation and began illustrating children’s books in Europe and the US.

Heartwarming everyday comics Roar Street Journal won 3rd place in Line Webtoon’s webtoon contest in 2015. The webcomic ran for three years. Began the webcomic IT Guy & Art Girl in 2018, and published a comic book in 2020. Chronos Express published under the 2nd Hong Kong Comics Support Programme in 2023 won the gold award and best comic story award in the programme. In the same year, the title received the Silver Award at the 17th Japan International MANGA Award.

Pang is currently a freelance artist who uses her art to spread messages about the love for life and the environment. When not drawing, she enjoys cooking, going for walks, and playing with dogs.

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About Hong Kong Arts Centre

Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All

Since 1977, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has been a platform for nurturing and supporting artists, and infusing art into everyday life. Its unique arts and educational programmes aim to make the arts accessible for all. The HKAC believes in the transformational power of art for people from all walks of life. Established more than four decades ago, the HKAC brings art to the people of Hong Kong – by presenting programmes for visual arts, performing arts, moving images and media arts, comics and animation. Other areas also cover arts education, conferences, festivals, public art and community projects, all done with the vision and mission of engaging and inspiring creativity in the Hong Kong community.

In 2000, HKAC founded its educational arm, Hong Kong Art School (HKAS). The HKAS provides award-bearing programmes to nurture artists and art practitioners, as well as short enrichment courses for the general public. The HKAC aspires to engage everyone in the community to become an active participant in the arts – as an enthusiast, an artist or a patron.

Let' s continue to embrace ‘Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All’, and share the inspiration.

Official website: hkac.org.hk | Facebook: Hong Kong Arts Centre | Instagram: @hongkongartscentre

About Comix Home Base

Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) believes that comics and animation are important local pop culture and artistic creations. HKAC has been dedicated to planning and organising diverse and unique activities to promote the arts and culture of comics and animation to the local community and abroad.

Since 2006, HKAC curated Comix Home Base project (CHB), hosted over 700 ani-com-related events, such as exhibitions, talks, workshops, performances, publications, screenings, public arts, etc. Outside Hong Kong, the footprints of Hong Kong comics can be found overseas in France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Singapore, Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, etc. Through the uniquely planned programmes, several Hong Kong comics artists have got chances to initiate international collaborations in publishing their comics in foreign languages in Europe. These all make an impact on the international comics scene and help to raise the profile of Hong Kong comics internationally.

HKAC (CHB) continues to proactively look for opportunities to promote Hong Kong's diverse comics and animation arts, with the aim of increasing international recognition and awareness of Hong Kong’s comics artists and their unique works.

Official website: www.comixhomebase.com.hk | Facebook: hkacchb | Instagram: @comixhomebase