Interview with Anke Kuhl, illustrator of the book "Radishes from Below"
4 October 2023
Ms. Kuhl, together with your colleague Katharina von der Gathen, you published the children's non-fiction book "Radishes from Below". How did you come to this project?
Anke KuhlThe idea came from Katharina von der Gathen. She approached me because we'd already collaborated on several books. I was immediately keen to create a children's book about death with her. I'd been thinking about doing a project that explored this topic aesthetically and narratively for some time, but I'd always put it off. A children's non-fiction book about death seemed like a wonderful idea. Since I'd learned from our previous projects that Katharina could present seemingly difficult topics to children in a very sensitive and calm way, I had great confidence that she would succeed here as well. The topic is very close to my heart, and I myself could have really used a book like this as a child.
What is it like for you to paint or draw dead people? How does it affect you, and is there a difference compared to painting living people?
Anke KuhlThat's an interesting question, one I'm being asked more often these days. Of course, there's a huge difference between drawing the living and the dead. I often get feedback that the characters in my books seem very lifelike. I hadn't drawn many dead people before "Radish from Below." But I've always been extremely drawn to depicting the dead. For example, I have a huge picture of a dead woodpecker hanging in my office, drawn by a friend who's an artist. I think there's a very special kind of beauty and peace emanating from dead people and animals, provided they haven't died a violent, gruesome death. I don't find the sight disturbing, and I had no qualms about drawing them. I found it almost calming and enjoyed doing it very much.
How do you manage to maintain humor in your illustrations when dealing with the topics of death, dying, and grief?
Anke KuhlI wouldn't know how to do without humor. However, with "Radishes from Below," I considered the type and dosage of humor more carefully than with previous projects. In our educational books, I felt I could joke around pretty freely. But when dealing with the topic of death, I realized that humor required a different level of sensitivity, and I explored more thoroughly where it was appropriate and where it wasn't. Katharina and I were very much in agreement that there had to be reasons and space for laughter in our book.
Anke KuhlBorn in 1970, she studied drawing in Mainz and Offenbach and has worked in the Frankfurt artists' collective labor since 1998. Her book "Alles Familie!" (All Family!), published by Klett Kinderbuch, was awarded the German Youth Literature Prize. She lives in Frankfurt am Main with her husband and two children.
The interviews were conducted by Angelina Habeck, an intern at the Museum for Sepulchral Culture.
