|
Hermann Huppen was born on the 17th July 1938 in Bévercé, a little Belgian village near Fagnes in the Ardennes, situated between the German border and the town of Liège.
Brought up during the war, he worried during his teenage years about how to become independent quickly and did professional training as a cabinet maker. Following his apprenticeship, he worked for a fortnight in the cabinet making industry before beginning to work for an architect. He went to night school to do architectural and decoration art classes in St.Gilles at the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
At the age of 18, he leaves for Canada with his family, as his sister has settled there. Hermann soon realises that he isn't cut out for living in Canada. He specialises in architecture and fitting out restaurants. Then, four years later he decides to go home to Brussels.
However, Huppen isn't yet destined to work on comic strips, even though he has been to art classes at the Académie des Beaux-Arts . Strangely enough, it's due to his marriage to Adeline in 1964 that he comes into contact with comic strips, because his brother in law Philippe Vandooren, the future editorial director for Dupuis, manages a scout magazine to which he delivers his first story.
Spotted by Greg, the young Hermann is taken on first of all for a trial period of six months in the master's studio. From now onwards, he works part time for an architect and spends his afternoons drawing. He mainly produces Histoires de l'oncle Paul. As from 1966, Greg writes the series of Bernard Prince for Hermann, which at the first attempt proves his incontestable talent for the realistic vein.
After a slight detour with the illustration of the two first albums of Jugurtha ( the story of Prince Numide, battling against the Roman invaders), Hermann takes on a new series with Greg. The very western style Comanche is first published in December 1969.
In 1977, Hermann feels the urge to create his own stories. He has everything going for him when he successfully launches his first solo series, Jérémiah. This is published by a German editor " Koralle". He stops Bernard Prince and is replaced by Dany.
From 1980 to 1983, he illustrates Nic, a series published in Spirou and scripted by Morphée (alias Vandooren).
In 1982, he produces La Cage and in the same year, he stops the Comanche series to be taken over later by Rouge.
In 1984, he momentarily moves away from the post-atomic topic of Jérémiah and creates Les Tours de Bois-Maury, a mediaeval, historical epic in which he superbly applies his realism.
Demanding, hardworking and curious, Hermann doesn't grant himself an easy life. Inclined to setting his sights high, he signs his first one shot Missie Vandisandi, which he follows up with an album produced with true colours Sarajevo-Tango, a rebellious cry for which the historical and social content earns him the Prix Oesterheld, named after the famous Argentinian scriptwriter who tragically "disappeared" in 1977.
In 1997, in Caatinga, Hermann's illustrations turn towards victims of a certain social order which was wreaking havoc in Northeast Brazil in the thirties.
In 1999, Hermann plunges back into the western style, just for one comic strip, On a tué Wild Bill. He uses this to show how he sees the merciless world of the pioneers of the new world.
In 2000, he produces Lune de Guerre with the help of Van Hamme, a piece of work which depicts human stupidity and absurdness. With his son, he then illustrates Liens de Sang , a traditional whodunit comic strip, although we detect a satanic plot in this album, full of ambiguity, false routes and a hint of the supernatural.
Although Hermann has a career full of accomplishments, he never stops exploring new horizons, and innovative techniques in order to express his deepest ideas.
Click here to find out more information about his son Yves.
Important journeys.
Reunion Island, Turkey, the Seychelles, Rio de Janeiro, Portugal, Norway, Italy, Sicily, Romania and Czechoslovakia.
Cinema :
Unfeasible list, nevertheless: Kurowasa's Les Sept Samourais which triggered off his passion for the 7th Art and a major film, Terry Gilliam's Brazil.
Exhibitions:
Brussels, Holland, Germany, Sarajevo, Angoulème, Lucca, Copenhagen, Rijeka (Croatia), Val d'Aoste, Amadora( Lisbon).
Important Events:
The war in Bosnia which led to his disillusionment as regards to the political world.
Prizes:
1970 Phoenix Prize, for Bernard Prince
1973 Foire du Livre Brussels- Best representational illustrator.
1980 Foire du Livre Brussels- Best script writer.
1982 Brussels Crayon d'or for Afromerica,
1984 Aix-Provence - for the collection of his works.
1987 Sierre - Maitrise d'honneur. Paris, Chambre des experts - Best work of the year.
1989 Colmar for Bois-Maury. Solliès-Ville - Best graphics.
1992 Lys-les-Lannoy - Best illustrator. Vienna(Austria)- Best illustrator. Gijon - Best illustration and best narrative.
1993 Chambre belge des experts BD - best illustrations.
1994 Sobreda ( Portugal) - Homage to his work.
1995 Durbuy- Grand Prix for Sarajevo Tango.
1996 Plan-de-Cuques-for the collection of his works. Rome - Oesterheld for Sarajevo Tango due to its humanistic characteristics.
1997 Solliès-Ville - Grand Prix for Caatinga.
|
|
