Olematon Olga

Olematon Olga (“Invisible Olga”) is created through seamless and complementary collaboration of author Inka Nousiainen and illustrator Satu Kettunen. Night Diary, a previous collaboration between the two, was nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize in 2017. The events of Invisible Olga are seen from the perspective of a small boy. The distinct central theme of the story emerges from the overflowing chatter of the talkative adult acting as the narrator: “There are too many people who are forgotten or nearly forgotten to be remembered at the last minute …” Olga is one of them. She is easily forgotten or lost – in the book she for example disappears in her yellow dress into flying maple leaves. The theme of the book is serious, but it is handled in a gentle way that inspires reader to focus on the beautiful and good things in life. The color palette of the book is both thoughtful and playful. The digital collage combines different surfaces, textures and techniques into a magnificent whole. In the end someone has noticed Olga: she runs off to play with a small boy. There is always someone who sees how important and meaningful the small and invisible people are.