Elena Ryumina

Grow beauty, to cut through the darkness, illustration by Elena Ryumina.

Štěpán Zavřel IV

If ever there was a book for our times it is this one: 'The City of Flowers' written by Eveline Hasler and illustrated by Štěpán Zavřel (1932-1999) originally published in 1987. Republished in 2016 by Bohem Press Italy

Once upon a time, there was a city, whose inhabitants loved flowers very much and cultivated them everywhere. People knew how to enjoy small things and how to overcome difficulties by appreciating nature and the beauty around themselves.  However one day a mayor convinces them that this was a great waste of time and ordered the removal of all the plants and even the butterflies to the cemetery of dreams. 

The city then became gray and sad. 

                   

  

But one day, two children discovered the secret garden where all the plants had been hidden. The children, with the help of a thunderstorm release the flowers and butterflies. With flowers and butterflies, the colors and the joy returns to the city and everyone's hearts.

The children had been brave and observant enough to see what was missing from everyone's lives and had restored the balance.

Joanna Migut

The degree show of Joanna Migut, unapologetically appley from the pip to the core. The peel to the name of your true love!

'I was looking for an object to paint that is quite simple everyday almost trivial but also symbolic and chose apple because it carries a lot of meaning. Everyone knows the story about Eve and Eden, the apple became a symbol of curiosity knowledge. There’s also Plato’s myth of Aristophanes which explains the origins of humans - once there were eight limbed creatures who grew so powerful they became a threat to the gods and Zeus decided to split them in half. Since then they live on Earth constantly seeking the wholeness they had lost. This is why the fruit in my works is split in half. What is more in Polish language we have a saying ‘they’re like two halves of one apple’ meaning soulmates. I like linking the curiosity of Eve, the search for wholeness from the Greek myth with the essence of artistic practice itself.'  Joanna Migut 

Jan Kudlacek II

Mascha und der Sommer, published in 1973, written by Gerlinde Schneider and illustrated by Jan Kudlacek (1928-2017).

"I wish to all always beautiful and inspiring experiences. Let us love each other, let us be able to help each other and share the nice but many times also the difficult which is brought to us every day. Every day is a miracle and every day is rare." Jan Kudlacek

Štěpán Zavřel III

Today's illustrations are from Štěpán Zavřel's 'The Magic Fish', published 1973. This book is about a fish who escapes from a painting, to explore the ocean.

The picture is so loved by the children, that it will not remain empty for long because the 'Magic Fish' does not forget its best friends!

Katherine Fay Allan I

Wonderfully sensitive and poignant work by Katherine Allan for her degree in Art and Philosophy on show at the Duncan of Jordanston Degree Exhibition this week. 

‘The rest of us, we just go gardening’

Born from witnessing my mother undergo intensive treatment for a life-threatening illness, this work aims to capture the process of medical procedures and the physical suspension between wellness and sickness. 

In the book ‘Adventures of Human Being’ I came across an account by a surgeon that compared brain surgery to the act of gardening. This comparison illustrates the true physicality between the medical professional and the patient’s body during this process; as parts are removed and mended by another. While also making us consider the boundaries made between the sterile and the unclean in regards to the environment of the modern hospital. This artwork takes the form of a patient bay reimagined to embody this surreal suspension by drawing attention to the boundaries made by the state of the body itself.

Treatment is to be suspended in the space between
inside outside
sterile unclean
in-organic organic
machine human
alive deceased
wellness sickness
care giver cared for Katherine Fay Allan

Sandra Allan

This is Sandra Allan's apocalyptic, Blue Peter vision of her home town in Fife. absolutely unflinching in its honesty, autobiography and calm understanding portrayal of a world gone wrong.

"Born and raised in a mining village in 1970, Blue Peter was a favourite children’s programme of mine. I spent hours trying to recreate Cindy and Barbie houses as a child. This was the inspiration for my latest work. Creating a village through my eyes as an adult. Inspired by Nathan Coley, his cardboard churches enabled me to be inspired to work with this material. My choice of recycled cardboard enabled me to work within a reasonable budget to produce a fictional village. This material is very flexible. I want to promote recycling to an audience that might be inspired to enable a future generation that art can be fun as well as inexpensive." Sandra Allan

The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Degree Show 2019 runs from Saturday until the 26th f May.

Marta Koci II

Marta Koci's book about a fairy who neglects her care for a tree, by traveling, luckily everyone helps the tree revive when she returns and sees how sickly it is.

Marta Koci I

Marta Koci's book 'P. Tinybit' published in 1973, has wonderful wet watercolour illustrations of a Japanese story about a berry beetle. Marta was born in Olmott, in the Czech Republic in 1945.

Marta studied painting at the Uherske Hrad, School of Art and Art and moved to Austria in 1964. After working as a graphic designer in Vienna, she became fascinated by the world of picture books and published her first picture book in 1971.