Tomi Ungerer. L’enfant terrible

Ungerer grew up in Alsace under the Nazi occupation, and bore the scars of this disturbed childhood for the rest of his life. In 1957, like many European artists, he went to try his luck in the United States. He enjoyed success but also drew condemnation. A staunch defender of freedom of expression, he screamed out his vision of the world through his uncompromisingly vehement and unnerving posters and illustrations. Moving first to Nova Scotia and then to Ireland, he continued exploring the many aspects of his creativity, producing a vast, prodigious and unclassifiable body of work.

In partnership with the Musée Tomi Ungerer-Centre International de l’Illustration (Strasbourg), the Fondation Folon brought together around 100 iconic illustrations and posters. It was an outrageous exhibition that pulled no punches.

A comprehensive illustrated brochure was produced to accompany the exhibition. It is still available from the Fondation Folon Artshop. By Frédéric Pajak and Thérèse Willer. €7.50