THE WILD AND THE WHIMSICAL
YUQIAO ZHENG & ALESSANDRA CIMATORIBUS
“For me, illustration lies somewhere between art and design,” says Yuqiao Zheng, an artist and PhD research student at the University of the Arts London, “one highlights expression, while the other prioritises communication.” With a focus on picture books, particularly those aimed at children, her wistful illustrations evoke the magic and mystery of nature. In this sequenced, illustrative form, she is able to mould a narrative into something complex and unfolding. “Compared with a sole image, pictorial sequences work better to convey a story,” she told us.
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A friend of the unknown, Yuqiao is always up for a challenge, “I love experimenting with new visual effects and prefer learning about unfamiliar topics rather than staying in my comfort zone,” she told Cluster. She utilizes plants and animals as metaphors, recalling a childlike sense of wonder; in her visual narratives, you’ll find fables and fantastical tales, full moons, dense forests and majestic animals. “My imagination is sparked in natural environments for its mystery and the distance it offers when living in an urban context,” she explains, “I still remember those childhood stories from Aesop’s fables, which produced enduring philosophical insights through simple and effective narratives.”
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Working primarily from imagination, Yuqiao’s creative process usually begins with a series of rough sketches until an idea starts to take shape. She leans on the colour palettes of traditional art, with pigments typically found in nature her work is awash with various shades of brown, orange, red and grey. At Cluster, she hopes to develop her work through constructive feedback sessions, “I hope I can learn from the other talented artists here,” she added. Currently, Yuqiao is working on two commercial picture books that are due to be published in 2022.
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Likewise, Italian illustrator Alessandra Cimatoribus has always possessed a penchant for storytelling. A graduate of the School of Graphics, Venice, it was an encouraging tutor that first set her on the path to illustration. “My first reference was the work of Kveta Packovska, who I still admire very much,” she told Cluster, “but I’m also inspired by nature, music, books and imaginary worlds.”
Embrace
There’s something whimsical about Alessandra’s peculiar illustrations; In her world, wide-eyed people and animals exist side by side, together they star gaze, dance, sip juice from a straw. “I have never abandoned the magic of childhood,” she explains, “inside me is still a childlike soul prone to wonder, play and the sense of mystery that pervades existence.”
Amelie
In The Jaguar and the Tapir, her piece selected by Cluster, she uses a layered, mixed media effect to imitate the rich textures of the forest. In parts, printed text can be gleamed between trees or in the pale reflection of the moon, signalling her affinity for storytelling. “We all need stories, even if we don’t realise it. We are hungry for them, constantly looking for meaning that can guide us through the adventure of life.”
In The Wood
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She starts each piece guided by chance; stains, suggestions, scribbles. Letting intuition lead, she uses acrylic colour, pencils and collage, layering up as she works, and taking time to rest in between sessions. “I want to act calmly, without haste,” she adds, and her careful creations are a testament to this slow-paced tenderness. At present, Alessandra is working on a book project, “it’s a funny and weird text,” she divulged, “but that’s all I can say for now.”
Through their work, Yuqiao and Alessandra create meaning from narrative, harnessing the transformative power of nature along the way. They ask us to participate in the power of stories, to suspend disbelief and engage in the fantastical. In doing so, they acknowledge an age-old truth best described by Ursula K. Le Grun; “people who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons, from within.”
Work by both Yuqiao Zheng and Alessandra Cimatoribus can be viewed on the Cluster Illustration platform
and purchased through our Cluster Illustration Online Shop.
Thank you for reading,
Stephanie Gavan & Cluster Team.