London College of Communication blog

Final year BA Graphic and Media Design – Design for Illustration students are showing some (pretty accomplished) works in progress right now in LCC’s Well Gallery. Amidst a frenzy of looming dissertation deadlines and other (requisite) final year anxieties, they present to the world Personal Best.

Walking through the gallery, what’s most striking is the fact that much of the show is not centred on drawing. There are of course beautiful, literal, illustrations: Hanna Yoo’s sinuous patterns are meticulous and organic simultaneously, and Kirsten Abildgaard’s study on Narwhal Tusks uses a combination of text and painterly marks that is both eye-catching and engaging.

But then there is the taxidermy hare, replete with a plant growing straight from its middle. It is beautiful and beguiling, but how is it illustration?

Visualisation is a key word, and students are encouraged to not limit theirs for the sake of convention. “Paul Bowman (Illustration Pathway Leader) really tries to get everyone to explore their own way of working and not follow current trends,” says student, Oliver Robson.

There is more typography, photographic work and mixed-media collage.  Robert Flanagan’s film animates his monotone, abstract mark-making and Sean Parker has created an installation, Unmonuments, in one corner.

His sketchbooks reveal extensive research into concrete, flanked by all the research files of his fellow students.

On Thursday 13 January, the students will also be hosting a Private View and Silent Print Auction feauturing their own work as well as that of established illustrators such as Rob Ryan, Martin O’Neill and Gemma Correl. All money raised goes towards staging their degree show in the summer.

Despite the stressful timing, Oliver considers this annual tradition “a good thing – it really steps up the level of work.” So if anyone’s left out there who thinks being an art student’s easy, let this interim show prove otherwise!

The show runs until 13 January. Private View and Silent Print Auction 6pm-9pm.

Tags: ba graphic and media design, ba illustration and visual media

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 at 5:08 pm and is filed under events, exhibitions, faculty of design, illustration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.