AOI members Oskar illustration agency announced the sale of works by five illustrators from the Oi! collective. Partnering with Visualise, an immersive production studio specialising in augmented, virtual and mixed reality, the project is designed to bring the outdoors in. All proceeds will go to NABS, the support organisation for the advertising and media industry, with the aim to promote wellness and improved mental health in the creative industries after a year of lockdowns.
According to the Mental Health Foundation over half of the adult population in the UK felt anxious or worried towards the end of 2020. While anxiety caused by the stress of the pandemic has declined from 62% in March 2020 to 42% in late February 2021, research shows that nature has played a crucial role with 45% of the UK population saying that being in green space has been vital for their mental health.
NABS’ own statistics reveal that the long-term impact of Covid is affecting advertising and media employees. Requests for its grants service rose by six per cent in Q1 2020, reflecting the financial impact of a year of job cuts and furlough. Meanwhile, 29% of calls to NABS’ Advice Line were from people seeking emotional support after a very difficult year. Money raised from Oskar Illustration’s project will go directly towards helping people across advertising and media at this critical time.
“At Oskar illustration we believe that art can not only support more creative advertising campaigns, but that it can also be an essential instrument for a better quality of life in the industry. We are really excited to be able to support NABS ’cause with some of the brilliant and totally unique works from Oskar illustration artists, while also providing something for everyone to enjoy with an amazing AR experience that not only brings the images to life, but also brings hope for life after lockdown.”
Oli Roberts, founder of Oskar illustration
Five of Oskar illustration’s artists have created bespoke posters to bring nature into people’s homes with a series of uplifting posters promoting the importance of nature through art. A limited number of exclusive posters will be going on sale live on the Oskar illustration website for one day only, all the proceeds will be donated to NABS to support its efforts in creating a better and healthier environment for the entire advertising and media industry.
Artists and Illustrations
Le Temps des Copains, Bertrand Aznar
Drawn from the artist’s own memories, the piece remembers all the good times spent with friends contemplating the beauty that nature offers us.
Travelling Daydream, Katherine Hardy
A wishful thinking illustration of where the artist wanted to be during lockdowns: the end of a warm day, lying on a sandy beach in Portugal.
Soon To Be, Paris Anthony-Walker
This piece highlights the fact that the world has had to find different ways of connecting with loved ones during the pandemic, but brings hope as we now start to come back together once again.
Sun Bob, Anton Hjertstedt
The piece shows how nature can make people feel alive again, recognising the goodness in life, even during lockdows.
Home Office, Haley Tippmann
The illustration shows the new working space, and a hopeful image with a desk fading from an indoor home office to a summer beach scene, to add to the hopeful feeling for better times to come.
Learn more about Oskar Illustration agency and follow them online on Instagram.