Awards

The judges are all pleased to select Nisaluk Chantanakom’s KEEPING MY STRIPES as the winner of the Emerging Illustrator category. Nisaluk’s concept was a stand-out proposal in a very impressive and competitive collection of applications. Keeping My Stripes is a poignant picture-book story told through the eyes of a young girl, who leaves behind the land and language of her homeland to arrive in a new place. Once there, she endeavours to hide her family ‘stripes’ in an effort to look and act more like the people of her new home. The story explores themes of migration, acceptance and the complexities of cultural adaptation in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.

Nisaluk’s character designs were particularly engaging, with a clever use of colour, pattern and mixed techniques to convey emotion and a strong visual narrative. The thoughtful use of pattern, influenced by the intricate Thai designs of the author’s childhood, has been employed to both paint the character’s story and as a visual exploration of the author’s cultural roots and experiences.

The judges were all impressed by how developed and technically skilful Nisaluk’s illustrations and concept storyboards were. Her portfolio reveals an evocative use of light and dark in her storytelling, as well as a strong evolving visual style. Keeping My Stripes was a wonderful and considered concept, beautifully articulated, and we are all looking forward to seeing more from Nisaluk.

1. Originality of the intended project

2. Creativity of the intended project

3. Artistic and literary merit of the applicant’s body of work (assessed on grounds of stylistic and thematic achievement as demonstrated by portfolio and support material)

4. Ability of applicant to create an excellent narrative with a significant visual component (as demonstrated by portfolio and support material) which may be textual and visual, or visual alone (wordless).