INTRO

We are really excited that, finally, after a three-year break due to the influence of Covid, our printed version of ‘Wunderkammer’ returns with a bang! It goes without saying that the past three years have been challenging in so many ways but as we see the effects of the pandemic recede the opportunity to revisit our own ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ becomes compelling.

The 6th print edition of ‘Wunderkammer’ once again showcases the wealth of talent that comes from the BA(Hons) Illustration Course at Falmouth University. The course’s mission is to help support each student in their search for a unique personal voice in their work. This is complemented with a deep knowledge of professional practice, which leads to graduates who can not only generate great illustrations but also supply the wider creative industries with designers, art directors and visual problem solvers.

We hope that you enjoy the images and encourage you to visit each student’s associated websites, where you will find more amazing work.

Nigel Owen Course Leader

Each year, 3rd-year Illustration students have the opportunity to engage in a range of live projects and industry-facing initiatives, enabling them to gain experience of working with Art Directors or Industry professionals.

One of the live briefs this year was with Kevin Wilson, the Art Director at the FT. The brief was to produce an image for a new comment strand in the newspaper – by new writers on technology and society. Kevin says:

“The roughs showcased an array of approaches, and all demonstrated imagination and confidence. The development from rough to final artwork is a critical part of the commission; it was encouraging that the students were all able to discuss their work and take on constructive feedback. This is a key skill in professional practice: the ability to tighten and finesse the work while maintaining focus and ownership of the concept.

The collection of final artworks exceeded my expectation of the brief. Within the variety of genres and concepts there was a common thread of clear and confident work, and a thoughtful progression from rough to final.”

“I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the doors stand open. I stepped into those woods and my life began.” ‘Circe’, Madeline Miller

According to Carl Jung, every person is governed by two spirits: the spirit of the times and the spirit of the depths. Our lives are an intricate dance between the two, and our wellbeing depends on their balance.

The power of escapism and connection with fictional characters in picture books provides a safe space for the child to explore new challenges and learn more about the world around them.

How many book references can you spot?

What if the family cat kept growing? A narrative illustration imagining the mischief a cat would get itself into if it grew to be as large as a building.

What’s that high up in the sky? A speckled face all shining bright, who sees the stars and shines on me. I must get close to look and see. Sometimes a piece of it is missing – even nibbled it still glistens. The moon, is it really cheese? A reflection on childhood curiosity.

‘Why is everyone stealing Parrots?’

A common but odd crime, bird theft has become an ever-increasing and curious phenomenon led by the rise in value and demand of tropical birds, following the pandemic.

If you got into your car right now and started driving, where would you go? Who would you meet? And, most importantly, what would you eat?

Encouraging children to encounter the majestic creatures within a Great Barrier Reef exhibit and inspire a lifelong passion for animals and their welfare.

A travelling curiosity: exploring concepts of “the ocean deep”, home, mutation and displacement. This illustration stems from research into ocean pollution, specifically observing the existence of “dead zones”, where marine life is impossible. This is a reimagining of marine life evolved and mutated as a result of pollution, becoming a hybrid of mammal and ecosystem – a wandering home.

Underwater kelp forests host a greater diversity of animals and plants than almost any other ocean community. The fast-growing seaweed provides shelter, food and hunting ground for thousands of species of British marine life.

Sword in hand, she set off on a journey of imagination, curious about what adventure would come her way.

In Kerala, South India, ‘home-gardens’ are a tradition where communities come together to tend to various wild plants and crops around the homestead. Allowing crops to grow alongside wild plants encourages a vast range of biodiversity in a garden’s ecosystem.

It is only when we wake, that we realise we have been asleep.