KVT – A Lonely Langur Launch at Manzi

KVT wants everyone to know about a very beautiful little book

This Friday there’s a book launch with a difference at Manzi at 14 Phan Huy Ich.

With a difference because the book will be a very collectable work of art.

Its author and illustrator, Suzi Garner, has collaborated with the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project to produce a graphic novella that aims to draw attention to the plight of these endangered langurs that are only found on Cat Ba Island in Ha Long Bay.

Suzi first came to my attention when I came across her first graphic novella titled’ A Death in Hanoi’ which is a superb piece of art and still sells in some places in Hanoi for a ridiculously low 150 000VND. Each page is a small jewel of ink, charcoal and watercolor. I almost feel like dismantling the 28 drawings and framing each one to hang on a wall so that the delicate, sad yet joyous, wordless story can be enjoyed from a new angle.

Hopefully there will be a reprint of the book available on Friday at Manzi. It’s one of those treasures about Hanoi that everyone with an eye for excellence should own.

In her new book Suzi tells the story of ‘The Lonely Langur’ in the same vein and the picture plates, again, are beautiful.

The images in the book are photographed from small dioramas that Suzi painstakingly made and these works of art –which they surely are- will be installed in the upstairs gallery at Manzi on Friday and will be on exhibition until February 6. They are for sale and, like her books, are very collectable works of art.

I only occasionally do a pre-opinion piece about an up and coming event and I’m doing so this time because I am a big fan of the Conservation Project (representatives of which will be at the launch to briefly expand on their essential work with the langurs)….and also because I want to highlight two books that are too excellent to miss out on at too excellently affordable prices.

Whenever I have visitors or friends whom I wish to reward I give them a copy of ‘A Death inHanoi’, of which I bought heaps for this express purpose. In my opinion there is no better object to give to people who take delight in receiving special things that they can treasure.

After Friday I’ll have two books to choose between as I’m about to get a heap of the Langur too (and I’m really keen on one of those delicate and involving dioramas)

Suzi will be available to sign her books at the book and art launch for art connoisseurs, lovers of elegant books, conservationists, and just about everyone else

Suzi is an active member of The Hanoi Writers’ Collective, participates in Noi Hanoi events, speaks fluent Vietnamese, has been involved in projects with Ethnic minority people, and is an all round fascinating person