Fancy Designing a Swatch? Read on.

You may have heard me mention Illustrative from time to time or the feature on “Defining the Art of Illustration” which was published last year?


Illustrative is a unique international exhibition for contemporary illustration and graphics. In 2009, the event returns to its hometown Berlin. From the 16th of October to the 1st of November, more than 60 artists will present an inspiring cornucopia of current graphical art. The Illustrative Talks, a series of lectures about contemporary illustration and graphic design, will open Illustrative this year. Illustrative will invite its audiences to go on a journey that is devoted to discovering tendencies and visual trends coming from graphic design, illustration, book art, comic, concept art or animation, branching out into the field of art.

Illustrative’s dual approach celebrating both new talent and more established, signifies their commitment to supporting new artists –designers. The Swatch Young Illustrators Award is the most renowned competition awarding creativity and innovation in personal contemporary illustration and graphics. It encourages and supports designers in their artistic practice and offers them an international and worldwide-recognized platform.


Awarding talent in three different categories, the Swatch Young Illustrators Award indicates current trends in graphics and illustration. Illustrative art works, art projects with graphic influences, animations and book art objects qualify for submission. Submissions can be handed in until the 30 September 2009. The jury will decide in October about each of the categories’ winners.

The nominees of the Swatch Young Illustrators Award will be invited to Berlin and get the opportunity to exhibit their work at Illustrative 2009. The winners await prizes worth 6.000 Euros as well as publications, illustration agency contracts and a chance to be featured in future international exhibitions. One winner will be invited to design a Swatch Watch – a great opportunity to join the ranks of artists such as Kiki Picasso, Pedro Almodóvar, Robert Altman and Keith Haring.


The nominees will be awarded by an international jury consisting of leading art directors, experts and editors such as Julius Wiedemann (editor „Illustration Now“), Jessica Helfand (Design Observer), Fernando Galán (art.es), Angharad Lewis (Grafik Magazine), Keiichi Tanaami (Illustrator), Maria Serrano (étapes), Cherie Federico (Aesthetica), Ruben Maurique Diaz (Neo2), Lilit Breddels (Volume Magazine), Olaf Hajek (Illustrator) and Claudia Gerdes (Page).

The prizes will be awarded in a festive ceremony at Illustrative 09 in Berlin on 17 October 2009.The short-listed artists will be announced on the Illustrative website in the beginning of October. Deadline 30 September 2009 – Registration Form at: www.illustrative.de

The Swatch Young Illustrators Award is a collaborative project of the Art Festival Illustrative and Swatch. Both partners aim to support young artists and the genre of illustration as well as to give visibility to the creative potential of contemporary graphics and illustration.


www.illustrative.de

Images (c) the artists

Christian Montenegro
Tomer Hanuka
Good Wives and Warriors

Get involved with the 2010 Aesthetica Creative Works Competition: Just 3 days left to enter your work!

There are just 3 days left to enter your work to the Aesthetica International Creative Works Competition. Hard copies of the 2009 Aesthetica Creative Works Annual have now sold out, but digital downloads of the 2009 Aesthetica Creative Works Annual are available through our online shop.


• The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition seeks entries of Artwork, Photography & Sculpture, Fiction and Poetry
• Three winners will be awarded £500 each
• Additional prizes include an Olympus E-420 SLR camera and a boutique holiday for two
• All finalists will be published in the Aesthetica Creative Works Annual, in stores December 2009
• Entry to the 2009 Aesthetica Creative Works Competition is £10
• This allows you to submit up to 5 images, 5 poems or 2 short stories
• Closing date to receive Creative Works is 31 August 2009
• Please click here for Competition FAQs • For full details please visit www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm



The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition is internationally recognised for identifying new artists and writers and bringing them to international attention. Previous finalists have achieved success and recognition with accolades including: writing commissions from Channel 4, selection to represent Australia in the Florence Biennale, exhibitions at DACS (London), John Martin Gallery (London), Flores Fine Art Gallery (New York), inclusion in the International Drawing Competition exhibition (Poland) and the National Geographic International Photographic exhibition. The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition represents the scope of creative activity today, and provides an opportunity for both new and established artists to nurture their reputations on an international scale.

[Image credits: Carrie May, Shivashtie Poonwassie, Hannah Lobley, Sonia Oliveira - all work from finalists of the 2008 Aesthetica Creative Works Competition]



What are you waiting for? Get your entries to us today!

Canary Wharf Film Festival 2009

One of our partners this year, Canary Wharf Film Festival, opens next week with a bang. Established in 2007 to break down the barriers between creativity and commerce by showcasing the best of UK and international filmmaking talent in one of the UK’s most iconic and well-known locations. The festival also aims to alter preconceived notions of Canary Wharf and highlighting it as London's newest creative hub; highlighting it as a filming location and tourist destination, while fostering a creative local and sustainable community.


The programme for this year has a particular focus on budding filmmakers, as well as asking the public to Shoot Canary Wharf and a new commission provides an incredibly moving and insightful look into London’s Docklands and Waterways of yesteryear. Opening on 3 September, CWFF’s programmes include Next Generation, Nearby: East End Docks and Green Sundays which all give something back to London’s East End and are totally free!

The Next Generation Programme, with support from the Canary Wharf Group, is providing aspiring filmmakers the opportunity of a life time as part of the festival’s aim to give up and coming filmmakers a helping hand to set them on their way. CWFF have been running free filmmaking workshops - in collaboration with Chocolate Films – throughout the summer for East London students interested in learning about the filmmaking process, teaching skills from storyboarding right through to the editing process, and their final cuts will be featured at the festival.


Young filmmakers will also be given the opportunity to pitch their film idea to a panel of experts for the chance to win an invaluable training course at the Central Film School. Pitchers will receive crucial tips to equip them with the tools need to successfully pitch ideas in the future. Plus local East End boy and director of the British hit Shifty, Eran Creevy, will be talking to festival goers about his experiences in the film industry, how he climbed the film ladder and what it was like working with Asher D and brands like Nike.

The Nearby: East End Docks programme will provide a look at one of the worlds most famous industrial areas of yesteryear, paying homage to an industry which laid the foundations for London’s business quarter. The programme will take place at the Museum of London Docklands and will provide a snapshot of the Docklands and Waterways that made London a super power in the trading world.



Green Sundays is another free offering from the CWFF showcasing the areas green credentials with a string of films, discussions and a cycling tour along East London’s Regents Canal. CWFF have delved into the archives to track down films, which address issues on pollution and contamination of the Thames and turning waste into animal feed in East London.

The Green Sundays Discussion will be another highlight of the festival addressing issues around the creative industries and sustainability. The discussion is one for the diary with a panel including Ben Todd (Arcola Theatre), Clement Mariotte (Bash Creations) and Sally Wilton (Lexi Cinema).

Olivia Bellas, Festival Director, says: “This year is by far one of the best programmes which we’ve had and are the most exited about since the festivals launch. Each year the programme gets better and with so much going on this year we’re going to have our work cut out in 2010."

Completing CWFF 09’s programme is the CWFF 09 Big Film Quiz, Between the Eyes, London Living, Shoot Canary Wharf, and the return of the Golden Canary Awards Show, recognising the festivals standout filmmakers in front of the industries finest.CWFF 09 runs from 3-7 September 2009, with films being shown at a wide range of locations, including Cineworld West India Quay, Museum in Docklands and the East Wintergarden.

CWFF is well worth the visit this year. www.cwff.org.uk

Coming Soon At Aesthetica -

We have always had a commitment to independent filmmakers, launching soon will be the Aesthetica Film Competition, which will support up and coming filmmakers with opportunities for screenings and prize money. Check www.aestheticamagazine.com for more details.