My exhibition explores my interest in illustration, visual storytelling and character creation, connecting it with themes such as mental health and nature. Many of my artworks feature characters that I have designed, exploring their own stories and how they can be visually conveyed. As someone who read a lot of fiction as a child, the creation and illustration of stories has always been my passion.

​

My work also focuses on how emotions and movement are expressed through the human form, which is a vital part of creating characters. I was inspired by classic fairytales and other, modern, stories I had read throughout my life, as well as personal experiences, which are visible in some of my works. My exhibition invites the audience into the world of storytelling by presenting various approaches to the theme.

​

My preference for materials such as pencils, felt-tips and pens is shown through their regular use in the selected works. They allowed me to experiment with different illustration styles, eventually arriving at one I can call my own. I was also inspired by comic books, cartoons and anime – media which traditionally also features these materials. However, to complement my illustrative style, I’ve also delved into a more realistic approach in some of my works. Expression and Mother Nature were both made to express realism as closely as possible. I believe this approach would be more efficient at conveying the themes of the works to the audience. By opposition, for the works that were centred around a narrative I understood that a more personal, illustrative style would benefit them, allowing the personalities and emotions of the characters to come through.

​

I connected my passion for storytelling with global and personal themes which could be presented through the story of the character in each artwork. For example, doing ballet as a hobby inspired my work titled Swan Lake. I was familiar with the struggles that many ballet dancers go through, which led to me to create a piece about the mental health of dancers, conveyed through a character. Furthermore, I incorporated my own worn-out ballet shoes into the artwork, which reflects the hard work that dancers put into the sport.

​

Another large piece which follows the main theme of storytelling is called Once Upon a Time. This work explores intertextuality and how the stories of famous fairytale princesses connect to the stories of well-known paintings. This work was inspired by my love of fairytales, and I wanted it to be a fun and visually pleasing work, where the illustrative aspect was the focus.

​

The artworks are all installed in frames and arranged in a way that lets each work be seen properly. The pieces are grouped thematically, with each section of the wall having similar works next to each other. The use of frames made of the same material in all the works provides visual cohesion throughout the exhibition. The artworks which offered the most visual impact were placed in central positions in the space, because I wanted the audience to focus on them first as they enter the exhibition.

​

The installation of sketchbooks in the middle of the exhibition acts as a guide and a pillar for the audience, whilst also creating an intimate space between the viewer and the artworks shown on the walls. There isn’t a single direction or flow to the exhibition as each work displays a different story and concept, and the audience is free to view them in any order. I wanted to engage with the audience by giving them the possibility to look through my sketchbooks, as well as allowing each viewer to use their own imagination to form the stories of some of the presented characters. I want the audience to enjoy the experience of viewing my exhibition, while feeling a sense of wonder and nostalgia.