This year’s PMQ Picture Book Exhibition, “FEEL FREE, FEEL 3,” showcases over 60 silent picture books thoughtfully curated from Europe, America, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong. Featuring a diverse range of formats—varying in size, shape, and interactive reading styles—the exhibition creates an inviting and imaginative space. Visitors are encouraged to explore the boundless potential of silent storytelling through playful, creative experiences that spark curiosity and wonder.

“Suekichi Akaba's Anno's journey was a gateway that opened me up to creating picture books. His work defied my impression of picture book storytelling, showing me another possibility for visual narrative. Anno's journey is a silent picture book that invites readers to follow a protagonist exploring an unknown land - from the seaside to the forest, countryside, town, and big city, and back again. Along the journey, readers experience various slices of everyday life, from birth and growth to play, celebration, work, marriage, and burial, allowing them to vicariously live through life's joys and sorrows. Without any text, readers naturally project their own living habits into the imagery, creating their own versions of the story, making this book timeless and allowing readers of all ages to find their own voices and worlds within."

"I really enjoyed the sense of mystery in Flotsam. Each page has new discoveries, making me feel that the world is truly wondrous."

"There are countless reasons to love wordless picture books. Perhaps it's the openness of the imagery, inviting endless interpretation, or the quiet pleasure of reading without the guidance of words. Picture books that rely solely on visuals often excel at showcasing the subtleties of visual language, and MVSEVM, a collaboration between author Javier Sáez-Castañ and illustrator Manuel Marsol, is a brilliant example. Turning its pages feels like wandering through a surrealist painting — a near-silent experience that compels the reader to craft their own dreamlike narrative."

"Katsumi Komagata’s first book for babies begins with a single polka dot—an abstract yet powerful image rooted in the body of a mother. Have you ever wondered what kind of book a newborn might "read"? Komagata once shared, “When my daughter stares at my face, I don’t just want to soothe her—I want to communicate something meaningful.” At first, he aimed to capture the shape of a breast as seen through a baby’s eyes—a symbol of comfort, trust, and connection between parent and child. For him, it was less about creating a simple picture and more about sending a heartfelt message to his daughter."

"I often use The Changing Countryside for picture book 101 sharing, animal, or architecture-related workshops. It has been in my studio for a long time, and I didn't even notice the white cat acting as the protagonist until different readers pointed it out. Apart from observing the changes in each scene, every reading reveals new discoveries. There's a sense of timelessness, depicting 1950s to 1970s Switzerland, but it still resonates profoundly with today's world, inviting endless contemplation and reflection."

"The author imagines himself surrounded by all kinds of fascinating creatures in the night. It reminds me of my own childhood—being alone in a field, surrounded by darkness so deep I couldn’t see a thing. My sense of hearing and smell grew sharper, and I felt as if nature truly came alive only after nightfall. Alone, I would wonder: What kind of animal is making that sound? What are they saying to each other? Although the picture book has no dialogue or sound effects, the illustrations seem to carry a rhythm—a quiet beat that brings the sounds to life."

"I adore this book because it makes everything feel so magical! Everyday things seem extraordinary through the child's perspective, and the artwork is absolutely charming."

PMQ Picture Book Exhibition “FEEL FREE, FEEL 3”

Date | 25.4 - 18.5.2025

Time | 11:00 - 19:00

Venue | S710 - S711, Staunton, PMQ

Details | https://pmq.hk/ufehy

Free Admission (Selected workshops are excluded)