Kkart
MADELIN WILIAN
ABOUT
Madelin's studio was established in 1986 in a basement flat in Peter Fabersgade in Copenhagen, where she moved to when she was 16, after 2 years at Rantzausminde students-democratic boarding school. Before then she had a rather changeable existence. Lots of moving and changing schools due to parents' divorce. Grew up in the cohousing, community 'Skråplanet´, lived, as a 7-year-old, for half a year at the idealistic Tvind Children's Course in Jutland. Was a bit confused by the many different scene changes, but found her own roots in art and drawing. She designed her first book for Gyldendal publishing house; "Rikke and Sigurd" by Lica Weis Næraa. (1986). It turned into a long and creative collaboration with the editor of Gyldendal Dingo, Jørn E. Albert. More than 60 books were designed for Gyldendal, Carlsen and Malling Bech. Occasionally she studied as a multimedia artist at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, 1998, and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, 2001. In 2003, her first both drawn and written book 'Skaterkongen' was published, since then several youth books and picture books have been published. Today she work with painting, drawing, graphics, animation, knitting, music, texts, short stories, novels, art events and teach creativity. If you are curious to read her older books, they are under her old author name/synonym: Mikkeline W. Gudmand-Høyer.
The many Dingo books, easy-to-read books for use at school and in libraries. The novels: The Gajolmanifesto, The Art of Keeping a Smile and
On Neptun it rains diamonds are all autobiographical (although with changed names) about a wild and searching youth and artistic life in the eighties.
"On the left is the first Dingo book I did illustrate as a kid in 1986. Part of Dingo's design was a frame on the cover, which I as a draftsman had to break, as I was told by the editor. I would like to break it even more, and in general play more with the language than was done in the old easy-to-read books. I then wrote and drew the series about skater boys, for Gyldendal publishing house, Dingo 2003, with "Skaterkongen" as the first. At that time, there was a lack of easy-to-read books especially for boys who did not bother to learn to read. It was then a struggle to be allowed to write more contemporary with everyday speech. The editor grumbled, but I pushed and finally managed to break the narrow limits of the easy-to-read framework. Since then, the series about Zoe, a skater girl, has been published."
Left: "The Skaterking 2003. Above: Hannah Fang and The Darkman , 2019. 1 part in the series about the vampire girl Hannah, who suffers from fear of light, and simply is to wellbehaved, compared to her vampire parents' expectations about her being a .scary monster.
Also, she wants to be a modern vampire, a vegetarian, and only eat blood oranges. Mother Tarantula doesn't approve of this.
SKATER ZOE text: Madelin Wilian
Illustrations: Bob Katzenelson
cover design (1995 - 2019)
MULTIMEDIA ARTIST
GREEN VALUES
Upon finishing education Madelin Wilian began working as a professional artist in Copenhagen. Since 1986 Madelin Wilian has worked on a variety of creative projects. Her works have been showcased in solo and group exhibitions around the world.Madelin Wilian artistic expression has gone through many phases over the years resulting in a highly personal approach and perspective. She is never content with standing still and are always looking for her next engaging project.
" I grew up in a home with high political awareness, and therefore I was inspired to relate to my own values at an early age. I think about which materials are used. I use vegan -brushes, -glue, -paint, etc, and recycling, as much as possible, as well climate friendly transport when travelling. Collaboration and community with other artists has a high value for me. I have been a vegetarian since a teenager, later a vegan. Well... I am no angel, but I try to do what I can."
"Girl at sea", oil on canvas 40x60 2015
""No titel" Watercolor 2016