Somerset House exhibition

The class recently went on an excursion to the AOI: World Illustration Awards at Somerset House. The exhibition displayed winning illustrative works from the Association of Illustrators' recent competition, spanning several different fields of illustration, from books and advertising to self-initiated work. I took a significant interest in this exhibition due to the direct nature of the exhibited artwork.

The works above are by the artists João Fazenda and Nata Joh respectively, and are similar in that they depict scenes reminiscent of folk or fantasy tales. Fazenda's work is part of a series of similar illustrations using the same medium of red and black drawing ink; they accompany a book on traditional Japanese folk tales. The work on the right falls under the category of self-initiated work; it is the front cover of a book the artist wrote about the experience of moving to new places. The giant in the picture is a fantastical representation of new experience. I personally took interest in these works, as while they were different in style and subject, they were successful in their realisation of folk-tale imagery; they exemplify the level of diversity within the artistic field of illustration.

The work above is entitled Home Sweet Home by illustrator Nicholas Stevenson; it is part of a collection of two works that picture imaginary homes. I find the use of the suburban icon of the Henry Hoover quite effective in its abundant portrayal; it resonates with the general public as it is a recognisable and familiar image that represents the home.

The World Illustration Awards was conclusively an artistically enriching experience as it demonstrated the diversity between genres of illustration, as previously mentioned - even if they are depicting similar subject matter.