2024 | Longlist | Publishing
- pronoun
She / Her - Why did you create this work?
These illustrations were created for a poetry book that explores the thoughts that arise while wandering through a busy city. You encounter a mix of sights and everyday scenes that describe relationships—between people, machines, and nature, with occasional bizarre moments. The book covers themes of society, time, hope, and memories. I chose passages to capture the essence of this lyrical journey. - How were your illustrations used?
My work is used as book illustrations and was commissioned by the publisher "Verlagshaus Berlin" for the poems "Livestream & Leichen" by the award-winning lyric poet Martin Piekar. The drawings were placed as full-page illustrations alongside the text. Additionally, there are scattered cut-out collage elements throughout the book and the book cover. The book is available in printed version. - What materials and techniques did you use?
The illustrations combine traditional and digital methods. Using black ink, acrylic paint, crayon, scratching, and cut-outs, I create analog shapes and figures. These elements are manually assembled, scanned, and digitally refined to create the final illustrations. Additionally, I utilize my personal library of handmade scanned textures and structures during the digital finalization process. - Was this project commissioned?
Commissioned - Commissioner Company
Verlagshaus Berlin - Commissioner Instagram
instagram.com/verlagshaus - Personal Website or Portfolio Link
ninakaun.com/
- Instagram
@nina_kaun - Biography
Nina Kaun is a German illustrator based in Berlin. Her focus is on editorial illustration and creating picture books. She experiments with textures, shapes, and surreal elements. Her works have been published by Rotopolpress and Verlagshaus Berlin. Also, she creates screenprints and has shown her art in solo and group exhibitions, including the Hangzhou Illustration and Comics Biennale in China.
- Where are you currently based?
Germany
