Birgitte Krogsbøll and Kamilla Wichmann

Himlen er en helleflynder (“The Sky Is a Halibut”, not translated into English) is an illustrated poetry book that one cannot help but notice by virtue of the fact that it is larger than most picture books, measuring 33 centimetres in height. While reading, the book must also be turned and rotated in order to view the spreads that are presented horizontally. 

At first glance, the book appears classical. It features illustrations reminiscent of encyclopaedias, accompanied by corresponding text. However, one quickly realises that it is anything but classical – indeed, it could be described as a kind of short-circuiting of the classical form. The book consists of lists and plates, poems, and diagrams. But not in the conventional sense. Perhaps, rather, in a poetic sense.  

The title itself can similarly be described as a poetic statement. The sky does not resemble a halibut – it is a halibut. And when one looks more closely, one sees that this is true. Or, at least, it could just as well be true. In this way, the work reformulates truth and reality into new truths and new realities. 

With great authority in both linguistic expression and visual style, the book presents things that aren’t usually described, as though they were the most important matters in the world – for example, “things that smell and things that have a fragrance”. The reader may then decide what belongs to which category (fart, icing sugar, petrol, vanilla, pine trees, etc.), while observing the twelve completely different noses depicted on the same page. The illustrations and the text sharpen the reader’s perception – during the act of reading itself, but perhaps also afterwards, when the eye meets the world and perceives new and curious connections.  

The theme is community. This becomes particularly clear in the so-called friendship diagrams (vän-diagrammen), originally derived from the branch of mathematics known as set theory (Venn diagrams). Quite concretely, they consist of circles that overlap, and the overlapping areas show the logical connections between groups – that is, what they have in common. An example from the book: “Buttercup, sun. Common = yellow.” Both text and illustrations invite the reader to slow down and delve deeper – one sinks into the pages and lingers over details and playful combinations.  

The final poem confirms what is felt throughout the book: we shape one another through what we do and what we say, so let’s make an effort. The poem reads: “bread is baked and rises / butter grows warm and melts / my friends and I are one / dough, kneaded by the world”. 

Himlen er en helleflynder is the third book by the creative duo Birgitte Krogsbøll (poet) and Kamilla Wichmann (illustrator). Both are extraordinarily accomplished in their respective fields, and if one were to create a friendship diagram of the two, the shared set would equal something heavenly!  

We need that. Especially now. That art dares to be art. For both children and adults. Krogsbøll and Wichmann dare to do precisely that. 

Birgitte Krogsbøll (b. 1954) is a trained educator and ADB assistant. She made her debut in 2002 with Wöldums pulsar syndrom and has since published poetry for both children and adults.  

Kamilla Wichmann (b. 1975) is an illustrator. She has primarily worked on children’s books and magazines.