Neurocomic

Neurocomic by Neuroscientists Dr Matteo Farinella & Dr Hana Ros is published by Nobrow Press.

This book does operate as both a graphic novel and an educational tool... and is an interesting way to convey otherwise scientifically specific and technical information. It did, however, feel like an overly self-conscious effort to 'educate' the reader - a bit insistent. Perhaps more suited to a mode like the 'Introducing' books - that series of heavily illustrated guides to all kinds of philosophical and scientific areas and ideas published by Totem books. But perhaps I just prefer a good story in graphic novels...!

Kara Walker at Camden Arts Centre

Kara Walker at Camden Arts Centre (ended Jan 5th 2014)

Kara Walker’s characters are drawn from American popular literature, culture and history, and she uses them to expose the myths that lie beneath cultural archetypes and the darker aspects of human behaviour. Best known for her cut out installations, her drawings (pictured above) reminded me of drawings from the mid 1990's by artists such as Alice Maher,  Nicola Tyson and Nicole Eisenman.

The video installation of her shadow puppet play 'Fall Frum Grace- Miss Pipi’s Blue Tale' combined the sentiment and mode of storytelling often associated in the West with childhood, and subverted this with a brutal narrative of discrimination and violence.

Picture This: Children's Illustrated Classics

Picture This: Children's Illustrated Classics on until 26 January, The British Library

 This exhibition of 20th century illustrators includes original artwork & rare editions of characters that have become embedded in our collective psyche: including Peter Pan, The Hobbit & Willy Wonka. These beautiful photographic illustrations/dioramas (above) are by Paul Henning - a new discovery for me. They embody a very period  depiction of an anthropomorphised natural world.