A very beautiful exhibition reveals precious drawings (which appear in the collection of the museum of the Imperial Palace) of traditional Chinese art, in which we think we detect the two main styles of painting: the Gongbi and the XIEYI. The gongbi which means “meticulous” is mainly characteristic of the richness of colors and details in the image and its content depicts mainly of portraits or stories. XIeyi, which means “by hand raised”, emphasizes the emotional expression of the author and is generally used to portray landscapes.
39e Edition of the International Book Fair of Tunis (Filt) is in full swing, offering visitors always faithful to this unavoidable literary meeting, different pavilions of guest countries, Stands of publishing houses, cultural activities addressed to young and old and other usual dedication sessions that animate the different corners of the Kram exhibition space every day.
And because the Filt is a major meeting for the book industry in Tunisia and in the region, we should make sure to improve it by highlighting its advances in terms of organization but also its shortcomings. This year, the public has further deplored that we still do not offer neither a clear card of the stands nor an updated list of publishing houses, despite all the means of communication and organization available. Visitors were not entitled to a practical program to guide them, enough to make the visit frustrating, especially for people who come from far away and hope to live an enriching cultural experience.
The cultural program, for example, is published daily but the same day (not in advance) on the Facebook page of the Fair, or then consulted (on its site) in catalog version not practical at all. It is still unacceptable that in 2025, we encounter Always this kind of failure. However, the solutions are simple: distribute a clear and printed plan at the entrance, with a digital version and a complete list of publishing houses (name, stand number, specialty). We could even create, in addition to that, a mobile application with search engine and geolocation of the stands …
The book fair is also and above all an opportunity to meet word makers from all stripes, to talk about the rise of the book and the publishing in the digital age and the ia surge and to open up to other cultures and other literatures.
These, among others, of Venezuela, Spain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and China, a guest of honor of this edition. Present with an imposing pavilion that cannot be missed when entering room 1 of the Kram Park, with typical coatings and other emblems: red lanterns, calligraphic panels and light signs in characteristic colors and letters; This last country shows different facets of its culture, its arts and its heritage.
Different stands are offered to the public, dedicated, among other things, to the art of calligraphy and comics, Made in China entertainment projects and the 40 publishing houses that participate.
A very beautiful exhibition reveals precious drawings (which appear in the collection of the museum of the Imperial Palace) of traditional Chinese art, in which we think we detect the two main styles of painting: the Gongbi and the XIEYI. The gongbi which means “meticulous” is mainly characteristic of the richness of colors and details in the image and its content depicts mainly of portraits or stories. XIeyi, which means “by hand raised”, emphasizes the emotional expression of the author and is generally used to portray landscapes.
A small space has been installed to accommodate conferences and other meetings, among other things, with the 6 guest authors, whose writer and researcher Cao Won Shwan, children’s literature and the poet Xi Chuan, rewarded with several Chinese and Tunisian literary prizes.
With the usual Arab and Tunisian publishing houses which mark their presence this year and those who are missing at the call (among others the great Egyptian editions whose absence is underlined each year by professionals in the profession), bookstores and foreign cooperation institutes; Some new stands stand out, like that of “Hkeyet Editions” with brands and other light installations that attract attention. Among other new Tunisian publications and other dedication sessions, there is an important meeting there, on May 4, with the old Palestinian hostage Israa Jaabis which will be present for a dedication session of its two works: “Mawjouaa” and “Fadfadhat” at 1:00 pm.
Released as part of a prisoner exchange agreement between the Palestinian resistance and the Zionist occupier, carried out between November 24 and December 1, 2023; Israa succeeded, through its unwavering tenacity and determination, in winning a license in social sciences, while it was still in detention, before being appointed Doctor Honoris Causa in human development, by the training sessions in international law which she wanted to teach, in turn, to other prisoners.
In October 2015, Israa (called Oum Mouatassem in reference to his only 14 -year -old son) was arrested by the army of the Zionist entity for attempted assassination of a soldier.
While she was on her way to El Quds, the occupation soldiers opened fire in his direction, thinking that she was going to commit a suicide attack after finding a gas cylinder on board her vehicle which she transported with a few objects from her former house to settle in another home. A violent explosion occurred leading to serious burns in Israa. She will be imprisoned for eight years, deprived of care. Despite the bodily and psychological abuse which was inflicted on him during the period of his imprisonment, the will of Israa was not a war started, even less his intellectual capacities. Not to be missed.
