Victoria & Albert Museum

 

Our first mission was to explore the given tasks to do within a certain time limit, as we got put into groups of 5 and had to meet up to visit the Memory Palace. During this time we had to have a look at: The illustration awards, The art of remembering and Making it up: Photographic fictions.

Illustration Awards 2013
As i was exploring the illustration awards i came across a variety of different illistrations, they had three different categories for illustrations such as: Book cover, Book illustration and Editorial. These awards have been running since 1972 and have included a students category since 2005. I really enjoyed this exhibition where, i have two favourites from and i would like to share. I thought that they were very outstanding and strong.

1) Book illustration award winner: Anna and Elena Balbusso
   
Illustartion for Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin Published by the Folio Society, London, 2012

The twins have been working as a team together since 1998. ‘It is not possible to quantify what Anna has given from what Elena has’, they say.

Media: Digital prints of original artwork in mixed media, acrylic and digitally drawn.

I really like the smokey effects on the image, where i actually thought the artist/ illustrator used oil pastels at first, before i read the information box; which suprised me. What really took my attention was the colours and the impact it gave, for instance the dark tones and shades on the misty forest and the orange on the center of the artwork which gave the effect of the lady on fire which draws all the attention on her.

The judges called the illustrations, ‘Elegant and unusual, immediately appealing images with imagination, mystery and a pinch of spooky fantasy’.


2) Student illustration runner-up winner: Minho Kwon - The Neo Arts and Crafts Movement ( Royal College of Arts )

This was my favourite  piece of illustration at the exhibition, i loved the use of charchocal on the tracing paper which gave a gothic look to the artwork. I believe that the artist was very detailed as seen on the study, he works very intricate and observed.

Media: Pencil and Charcoal on tracing paper.

Judges comment:  ‘The drawings give a history of their making in the working traces, providing a tension between the solid and the speculative. There is a strong conviction with which they depict something that does not exist. They are reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopters, designed and drawn hundreds of years before they existed’.



Building Memories - The Art of Remembering

As i was exploring the art of remembering, i came across this one quote i remember very clearly, which was:

Our whole education depends on memory and memory is the treasury of eloquence.

I thought about memory in general and started questioning myself on, a life without memory ? there would be no knowledge on anything, because without memory we cant live. How could we think ? How people wouldnt be able to live a life they wont remember. Meaning how would they remember how to survive or even question who or what they are? its very confusing, i guess memory really is a treasure for all us humans.




Making it up - Photographic Fictions

A camera never lies. Yes it does.

Frances Kearney ( Born 1970 )
Five People Thinking The Same Thing ll, lll and V 1998

This was my Favourite piece in the Gallery, considering how thoughtfully it was taken and the moments of the images being captured. The all seem like spontaneous snapshots, however all their expressions and poses were all manipulated for the scenery shots; which were all defined as 'Lost Time'. They were all captured within the moment of personal reflections, perhaps waiting for something to happen. 


 

 

References:

• http://www.vam.ac.uk/b/villa-2013/student-illustrations
• Victoria and Albert Museum