The exhibition "Belgian Comics: A Lab of Imagination" opened at the Guangzhou Library on Monday, attracting comic enthusiasts and families eager to revisit classic Belgian works.
Many visitors, including parents with children, attended the event to relive childhood memories through beloved titles such as The Smurfs and The Adventures of Tintin.
Jointly organized by the Guangzhou Library and the Consulate General of Belgium in Guangzhou, the exhibition features 62 sets of works, including illustrations and reproductions of original manuscripts from six iconic Belgian comic series.
In addition to internationally renowned classics like The Smurfs and The Adventures of Tintin, the exhibition also showcases popular Belgian titles such as Marsupilami, Gaston, Suske and Wiske, and the dark humor series Dickie, which has gained popularity across Europe over the past two decades.
"Comics are regarded as the ninth art in Belgium," said Wim Peeters, Consul General of Belgium in Guangzhou, at the opening ceremony. "During the 20th century, creators from Belgium and France led the way, developing comics into a diverse art form that continuously pushed the boundaries of the medium, pioneered new narrative methods, and revolutionized artistic techniques."
Guangdong maintains a particularly strong connection with Belgian comics.
It was the first region in China to introduce The Smurfs. In 1983, Guangdong Television aired the animated series for the first time in the country, translating its original French title Les Schtroumpfs into the now-familiar Chinese name "蓝精灵." The show's theme song, still widely recognized today, was created by Guangzhou-based artists Qu Cong and Zheng Qiufeng.
Reporter: Xie Hongzhou
Photo: Guangzhou Library
