From the series My Night Brother, 2006-2008

Joanna Hellgren

Annika Gunnarsson: Jakob is about to turn ten years old. In a dream, he meets his deceased brother, who shares his name. His brother died in a tragic accident ten years earlier, nine months before Jakob was born.

In the dream, big brother Jacob visits his little brother, which makes him think about where big brother Jakob ends and where he himself begins.

“My Night Brother” is Joanna Hellgren’s debut book. It was first published in France in 2006 before being translated into Swedish in 2008. The story is a poetic portrait of a child who has grown up in the shadow of his deceased sibling.

To cope with the situation, Jakob goes on an adventure with his new friend Miranda. In this image we see them together.

Joanna Hellgren’s drawings reflect the subtleties of being human. Her images are black and white, sensual and graphic. Here they are taken out of their original context as part of a book that combines images and text.

The story explores our inner world of imagination: what and how we think about our surroundings, and how we can shape and influence them through our presence.

These are narratives that speak to all of us, regardless of age. Joanna Hellgren has been nominated for the Artémisia Prize which recognises female cartoonists in France, for her stories about Frances, which are also displayed here.