“An incredible experience” was the phrase used by Scharf, a graduate of the Bachelor’s program in Graphic Design at Universidad ORT Uruguay, to describe his two-week stay in Shanghai, China.
He and his colleague Sabrina Pérez were the only two Uruguayans selected to participate in late November at the Shanghai International Children's and Youth Book Fair, one of the most renowned events of its kind worldwide.
The road to getting there wasn't easy. First, he had to enter the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition, which attracted thousands of illustrators from around the world. The requirement was to submit a series of illustrations that could be book projects or already published books, but the condition was that they could not include any text. The images, taken as a whole, had to tell a story.
Against the clock
A month and a half before the fair began, he received notification that he had been selected to participate. From there, he began the process of securing the support that would allow him to travel to the event. “It was very difficult to travel to Asia because tickets are expensive and the cost of living there is high as well. But from the very beginning, we knew that going was a great opportunity to talk about and share what’s happening in Uruguay in the field of illustration,” Scharf said a week after returning from the fair.
It was also an opportunity for publishers and colleagues to build relationships, with the aim of forging connections and establishing contacts. “We began exploring ways to secure funding so we could attend. From the very beginning, we had the backing of the Institute of Visual Arts of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as ORT, the Uruguayan Embassy in China, and the Uruguayan Consulate in Shanghai,” he said.
After making the necessary arrangements, and just five days before the fair was set to begin, they secured the support they needed to travel.
Illustrations for the World
The ORT graduate with a degree in graphic design said it was an honor to have participated in an event of that magnitude and also to have been one of only two Uruguayans selected.
“It’s a remarkable achievement in the world of soccer, because it’s incredible that with our population size, there’s so much talent. I never tire of repeating this in every talk I give,” Scharf explained. He added: “It was great that we were there, because it was a way to make our presence felt and continue fostering that exchange.”
Part of the recognition for being selected was the opportunity to exhibit his work at the fair. “We connected with colleagues from around the world and told them about what’s happening in Uruguay regarding illustration and awards—since not every country has the same situation. We showcased some of our projects, which were very well received,” he said. He also added that there is currently a boom in illustration in Uruguay. “Today, our work is also much more visible thanks to the internet and social media. Before, it was limited to Uruguay, but now that has changed,” he said.
One of the 200 best illustrators
Looking back on his time as a student at ORT, Scharf recalls spending hours in the library reading books, magazines, and publications related to design and illustration. “I remember a well-known advertising and art magazine, Lürzer’s Archive, which I used to read when I was studying at ORT, and recently I was recognized—for the third consecutive time—as one of the world’s 200 best illustrators. It’s incredible to be featured in the magazine that inspired me when I was a student,” he recalls.
He says that his time at university “contributed a great deal” to his professional future. “My art and illustrations are heavily based on printmaking and screen printing; they’re very visual, very graphic, and very conceptual. I undoubtedly acquired some of those elements at ORT,” he concluded.