Hasta La Ideas

Over the years, we’ve come to expect great things of the illustration show at Norwich Univeristy College of the Arts. This year’s show, while not quite hitting the all-round heights of 2011, still features some wonderful imagery

The show (which also encompasses NUCA’s Gallery space this year, where work will be on sale) opens to the public on Wednesday 27 June but CR was granted a sneak peek last Friday.

Gary Hunt has already had some success this year, his Social Mail series of stamps (above), featuring heads which users were encouraged to add bodies to on the envelope, winning at the RSA Student Design Awards. His very strong display included Headgear (detail shown top), a series “based on a central character who is able to perform various jobs thanks to his magical headgear. Beekeeper, Spaceman, Fireman, Diver…”

Also impressive was Oddity Outpost, a packaging series of products designed to defeat mythical creatures while also being handy camping items (all rather reminiscent of McSweeney’s 826 writing centres including the Superhero Supply Store perhaps, but very well executed)

Nicola Jones took her inspiration from the college’s doorstop with a lovely editorial project on Norwich market, consisting of a concertina book and poster.

I also enjoyed Georgina Pape‘s Indian and African book projects

In terms of pure technique, Rupert Smissen’s work was remarkable, as can be seen from his entry to a D&AD Student Awards brief set by Little White Lies magazine.

This video, made over 48 hours, reveals more

One of the most striking displays came courtesy of Stacey Knights and her series on endangered British birds, all beautifully cut from paper. The leftover bits were then used, charmingly, for nesting material.

Stacey also entered the Little White Lies D&AD brief, with this Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy cover

And finally, Sian Richards‘ animal triptychs, adding musculature and hide in three stages, were beautiful

There’s lots more great stuff in the show – these are only personal highlights. For a comprehensive overview, the show’s website is here

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