Children’s Book for the French National Archives

A series of 20 illustrated plates commissioned by the French National Archives for the book L’île des Mers Perdues (The Island of Lost Seas), illustrated by Virgile Demo with assistance from Karolina Dema. Inspired by a story by Pierre Hancisse and Ludovic Lavigne, this ecological tale centers on an island lacking plant life, where inhabitants survive on a salt-based mixture. Everything changes when a gigantic tree appears on their shores, setting them on an unexpected journey.

Developed in collaboration with elementary school students aged 6-9, L’île des Mers Perdues was created during workshops at the Archives Nationales in Paris from 2019 to 2021. The series itself was developed in Demo Dema’s studio in Brussels. Inspirations for this series include Bruegel, Rodin and Merian, amongst other references.

In 2021, the plates were added to the historical collections of the French National Archives, an important repository of the nation’s memory. A restitution ceremony was held in June 2021. 

Delivery Date: May 2021
Artists: Virgile Demo & Karolina Dema
Dimensions: 60 x 85 cm
Techniques: Ink and Pastel on Carbon Paper