Marvellous & Mischievous: Literature's Young Rebels, British Library
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![Two people look at books displayed in green showcases in front of a wall decorated with repeating green motifs. Along the wall are framed illustrations and large cardboard cut-outs of palm trees which hang over the exhibits.]()
A joyous exploration of children's book characters and illustrations, designed specifically for the same audience as the publications.
Marvellous and Mischievous: Literature’s Young Rebels, British Library, 2019, 8 November 2019 – 1 March 2020. Lighting design by Dha.
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![A wallpapered wall with 2D cardboard furniture – a door, armchair, lamp, fireplace and three flying ducks. On the wall are framed drawings, a framed text titled “At Home,” and a real mirror above the fireplace.]()
This was the first exhibition The British Library created specifically for families and younger visitors. It brought together an array of children’s literature from the last 300 years to consider the question: What makes a young ‘rebel’ in children’s stories?
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![Perspex showcases on a blue-topped table displaying open books. To the left is a dressing up corner with pirate costumes and dresses. The back right wall displays framed illustrations and an animated video.]()
The exhibition design was colourful and fun, with three distinct areas linked to three themes: At Home, At School, and On a Journey. We designed bold graphic wallpaper for each area, drawing from the texts and illustrations on display. Corrugated cardboard cut-out furniture, trees and props were set against the visually-rich backdrops to further define the character of each area.
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![Visitors in a reading corner. A long sand-coloured table snakes around the edge of a room, turning into small bookshelves and seating in the far corner. The blue walls feature a seascape illustration.]()
Almost a quarter of the gallery at The British Library was turned into a reading corner, designed to resemble a beach with a seascape wall graphic complete with comedy seagulls and flying dragons. Visitors could sit and relax with copies of the books from the exhibition. The area also served as a gathering space for school groups as part of the educational programme.
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![A child trying on the costume of the main character from "Where the Wild Things Are" - a grey cloak with a cardboard fur-lined crown.]()
Throughout the exhibition there were opportunities for visitors to get involved and leave their mark. They could write their own stories and comics, dress up as characters from the books on display and make a pledge to stand up for something.
Throughout the exhibition there were opportunities for visitors to get involved and leave their mark. They could write their own stories and comics, dress up as characters from the books on display and make a pledge to stand up for a cause.
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![A blackboard with white text titled “At School.” A4 drawings are strung across the board, with a school desk and four chairs beneath it, and a wall-mounted showcase containing books on the left.]()
Display plinths and wall frames were set lower than usual, to make a more comfortable viewing experience for younger visitors. The plinths were designed to resemble desks and piece of furniture and a special set of text prompts were created using expressive typography and character eyes.
