Illustrators unite to save the badgers
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Good news for Welsh badgers today - a planned cull has been dropped in favour of a vaccine, which has seen 275 of the monochrome critters already bravely having their jabs.
Andrew Groves
What’s this got to do with design, though? Well, a bunch of talented illustrators and artist have clubbed together to help more badgers across the UK who face culls, creating an exhibition of about 25 works with all proceeds going towards charity The Wildlife Trusts.
Helen Lovelee
George Allen, who is curating the show, says, ‘They’re doing these trials [with vaccines] but they’ve got no idea about the numbers – they could either wipe them out completely; or if they don’t kill enough [tuberculosis] will spread.’
James Unsworth
The exhibition, sweetly entitled Love Thy Badger, will be showing badger-themed artwork, and the opening night will also see a screening of the short film Badger Babies. Drinks naturally, will be provided by Badger Beer. Badgertastic.
Hattie Stewart
Contributors include Andrew Groves, Hattie Stewart, Jon Boam, Helen Lovelee, Mandy Smith and Scott Garett.
Jon Boam
Allen says, ‘I’ve always loved badgers. When I heard about the news that the government wanted to cull them, and it’s avoidable, I thought about how I could get involved in to help. I’m into illustration and I thought this would be a good way to combine the two.’
Lorna Scobie
Allen compiled a wish-list of illustrators, and briefed them to come up with an artwork inspired by the culls or the badgers themselves.
He says, ‘I’ve really liked everything that comes in. I was worried a lot of people would respond in the same way but it’s really varied.’
Love Thy Badger runs from 21 – 24 June at Protein Gallery, 18 Hewett Street, London EC2A
