World Illustration Awards 2016 winners announced

The winners of the 2016 World Illustration Awards were announced this week with two illustrators from South Korea taking the top prizes.

The awards, presented by the Association of Illustrators in partnership with California’s Directory of Illustration and Somerset House, mark the 40th anniversary of the AOI’s annual celebration of the industry’s best work.

Illustrators from South Korea won both the overall Professional and New Talent Awards, with the top awards going to Jimin Kim (below) and Jungho Lee (above), respectively. The pair also headed up the work in the Books category.

Lee’s winning project was a hand-drawn book illustration made using graphite and charcoal (a commission for Sang Publishing), while Kim’s Hyde & Seek picture book explored the theme of ‘alter egos’ in the form of a series of black and white etchings (the reader can create different compositions from the sections).

“I get the impression that the participants are interested in expressive technique to showcase their style,” said Books category judge, Daehyun Kim. “Jungho Lee’s picture book is distinguished not just because of his outstanding technique, but great imagination. I think this is why the jury chose his book as the overall winner.

“I really enjoyed Jimin Kim’s little book,” judge Kim added. “I wanted to peek through the little holes to discover fractions of personality. The title, the story, and the cut-out technique are just in perfect harmony. I’m so proud of the result of the competition!”

This year’s winning work – over 50 projects – will be shown at an exhibition held at Somerset House’s Embankment East Galleries from August 1-29 (entry is free). It will then tour the UK throughout 2016-17.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Overall Winner New Talent: Jimin Kim

Overall Winner Professional: Jungho Lee

Winner – Advertising New Talent: Julinu

Winner – Advertising Professional: Forge & Morrow

Winner – Books New Talent: Jimin Kim

Winner – Books Professional: Jungho Lee

Winner – Children’s Books New Talent: Ami Shin

Winner – Children’s Books Professional: Alex T. Smith

Winner – Design Professional: Ella Cohen

Winner – Design New Talent: Thoka Maer

Winner – Editorial New Talent: Nancy Liang

Winner – Editorial Professional: Matt Huynh

Winner – Public Realm Professional: Brian Gallagher

Winner – Public Realm Professional: Diego Becas Villegas

Winner – Research & Knowledge Communication New Talent: Eun Jung Bahng

Winner – Research & Knowledge Communication Professional: Florian Bayer

Winner – Self Initiated New Talent: Eunjoo Lee

Winner – Self Initiated Professional: Gigi Rose Gray

For more go here

The 2016 World Illustration Awards exhibition is now on:

1 August – 29 August 2016, 10 – 6pm Embankment East Galleries, Somerset House, London

Free Admission

WIA 2016 ARTIST SHOW & TELL

Thursdays at 13:15 – 13:30 Embankment East Galleries, South Wing

Free, spaces limited

Thursday 4 August: Eunjoo Lee TBC

Thursday 11 August: David Foldvari

Thursday 18 August: Lizzie Mary Cullen

Thursday 25 August: Richard Carey (La Boca)

For more details also visit the Somerset House website.

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