Nigh on a month ago the latest batch of talented graduates from the Camberwell College of Arts illustration degree course put on their standalone show at The Rag Factory, a big white warehouse space that offers the perfect blank canvas. It also happens to be fantastically close to my home, making it a super easy destination for me. I was sad to have missed the Brighton University illustration degree show this year due to a family break in Pembrokeshire, but since the Car Park Show was held in deepest darkest Fulham it’s doubtful I would have made it anyway. There’s a reason why so many shows are held in East London: a huge amount of creatives live and work around here, and there are an awful lot of graduate shows to see.
The students from Well Said show ensured I knew the dates of their exhibition by sending me this delightful illustration package: there’s nothing like a tangible invite to build excitement. And as ever, they had produced a wonderful promotional book, seen above attractively piled on the floor. Predictably, this was a very strong showing from one of the best illustration courses in the country. Here’s what I found.
This exploration of the nervous system is by Sophia Parvinmehr.
Yiran Huang made this huge mandala type pattern that looks equally good in close up. She had also made possibly the best business cards ever: hand drawn cats, each in different poses. Love them. May have taken three.
This brilliantly oddball installation is by Ruta Daubure, whose optical set designs for opera act like a strange human camouflage.
This beautifully drawn bumble bee is by Carim Nahaboo. Bees are everywhere this year, which means they are obviously on people’s minds. Given the number of dead bees I’ve seen recently, this is definitely a good thing.
Schiz by Siwei Tao is wonderfully odd, as is this strange image of detached arms in pots…
I love this narrative painted illustration by Lauren Doughty, based on Man from the South by Roald Dahl. Her work is just so fabulously sploshy, and I so dig that 80s influence on the colour palette.
Susan Calvert made this installation of wonderful painted wooden landscapes, which she showed alongside this gigantic oil pastel abstract.
Sam Marot‘s ‘British Empire‘ prints tackled a thorny subject to produce some interesting work, including this striking lion poster.
The jovial abstracted footballer is by Jack Sachs, as is this ‘sexy lady’ which mimics the typical pose of a page three lass. When I posted this image on instagram it caused a bit of a stir; but I don’t find Jack’s depiction offensive or irritating, rather it appears to question a fixation with everyday sexualisation in a knowing and humorous way.
I absolutely adored this brilliant screen printed book by Rich de Courcy. Wedges and Ledges was inspired by a love of skateboarding in London, paying homage to much loved places such as the threatened skatepark under the brutalist South Bank arches, now immortalised in bright colours (sign the petition to save it here). I so wanted to take one of these little beauties home.
This Cosmic Omelette mobile by Saara Karppinen was inspired by a Finnish creation myth.
Kim Smith of Art Equals Happy had put together a beautiful crafty display that ably showcased her beautiful handspun wares. I especially love her hand-written watercolour typography. See more on her website here.
Upstairs I encountered an astonishing and large embroidered appliqué covered with jocular frogs by Titi Lee (this is a close up). This surreal vignette is based on her experience of using the London Underground.
Jessica Weijia Zhang had produced this slightly crackers illustration based on poems by Edward Lear.
Lucy Swan‘s intricate line illustrations tackled the uncomfortable relationship between religion and money.
And finally, this magical eye print was one of an awe inspiring display put together by Freya Faulkner, titled Annihilation is Nigh: Cult of the Big Bang. Her rhythmical artwork and fabulous illustrated ceramics reflect the warring factions of matter and antimatter in brilliant narrative style.
My last graduate review will feature the artwork of University Arts Bournemouth Illustration students; coming soon! Remember, most of my creative finds can be viewed first if you follow my instagram feed.
Written by Amelia Gregory on Wednesday July 31st, 2013 10:05 pm
Categories ,2013, ,Annihilation is Nigh: Cult of the Big Bang, ,Art Equals Happy, ,Brick Lane, ,Brighton University, ,British Empire, ,Camberwell College of Arts, ,Car Park Show, ,Carim Nahaboo, ,Cosmic Omelette, ,Degree Show, ,Edward Lear, ,Freya Faulkner, ,graduate, ,illustration, ,Jack Sachs, ,Jessica Weijia Zhang, ,Kim Smith, ,Lauren Doughty, ,Lucy Swan, ,Man from the South, ,review, ,Rich de Courcy, ,Roald Dahl, ,Ruta Daubure, ,Saara Karppinen, ,Sam Marot, ,Schiz, ,Siwei Tao, ,Sophia Parvinmehr, ,south bank, ,Susan Calvert, ,Susie Calvert, ,the rag factory, ,Titi Lee, ,University Arts Bournemouth, ,Wedges and Ledges, ,Well Said, ,Yiran Huang
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