Somerset House brings together 50 of the year’s best illustrations for the 40th year of the World Illustration Awards, on display at its Embankment Galleries from August 1-29.Choosing from among entrants from nearly 70 countries, the exhibition aims to show the full breadth of illustration in 2016, encompassing everything from advertising to editorial, and from works on textile to digital GIFs.As with any annual show, the World Illustration Awards paint a picture of the state of their chosen craft. As Association of Illustrators award manager Sabine Reimer stated in a press release, “this year is notable for darker, more challenging work, exploring areas such as the refugee crisis. The exhibition balances these serious works, such as David Foldvari’s evocative image of the migrant crisis [...] with lighter works such as Richard Lewington’s stunning depictions of bees [...] and Levente Szabo’s arresting BAFTA Award brochures.”Also notable in this exhibition, which runs alongside other illustration-heavy showcases at Somerset House like “Summer Screen Prints” and “Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick,” are Ella Cohen’s images for the Festival Playground Israel. Based on the idea of a theatrical parade coming from Israel to the festival’s location in Berlin, it is a vibrant, picaresque series of images, teeming with life despite the simplicity of the line and shape.Other images in the exhibition feature King Richard II, a modern chic update of classic 1980s Nintendo video game scenarios, and knitted seafood. These resulted from commissions by major organizations such as Penguin Books, Save the Children, and Royal Mail.Although all the images come highly commended, the overall winners of the World Illustration Awards will be announced in a ceremony on August 3. Decide your own winners by looking at some of the highlights in our slideshow.World Illustration Awards run from August 1-29 at Somerset House (Embankment Galleries).
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