Chryso Charalambous: Illustration Award and Inspiration

Chryso Charalambous, winner of the State Illustration Award for Areti Katsantoni's book 'The Moon in Paris,' talks about her art and the challenges of the profession in Cyprus.

The illustrator emphasizes the importance of creating captivating images that enhance children's imagination and help them connect emotionally with the story. She mentions that her love for traveling and the cities of the world, especially Paris, inspired her for this particular book.

Charalambous points out that each book is a challenge to create unique images that tell the story, experimenting with unusual compositions. She recognizes the crucial role of images in the success of a children's book, as they are the child's first point of contact with the story.

Referring to the difficulties of surviving in Cyprus as an illustrator, Charalambous emphasizes that the creative space is small and art is often undervalued, requiring resourcefulness and constant role-switching.

The interview was published in the Elefthera newspaper on December 21, 2025.