Poets’ work transformed into comic book illustrations after winning competition
Two Ely residents have had their poems transformed into comic book illustrations. Picture: Babylon Arts - Credit: Babylon Arts
Two east Cambridgeshire poets have had their work transformed into comic book-style illustrations after they both won an arts competition.
Artist Irina Richards. Picture: Babylon Arts - Credit: Babylon Arts
Ely-based Babylon Arts launched an appeal to find a poet’s work to be turned into Manga art to fill 60 windowpanes along the riverside.
The gallery received 34 poems in total and found it so hard to decide one winner, they picked two – Sophie Bell and Hebe Young’s entries were chosen.
Both from the city, Sophie and Hebe’s work will be re-imagined as comic strips by artist Irina Richards who was tasked with completing the work.
Claire Somerville, chief executive of Babylon ARTS said: “We want to say a big thank you to everyone that took part in the project and sent in their poetry submissions.
Sophie Bell. Picture: Babylon Arts - Credit: Babylon Arts
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“We received some fantastic poems, which made the decision to pick just one, too difficult - so we chose two!”
Sophie said: “I was thrilled to be part of this project. Irina’s comic strip really captures the fears and joys so many of us have experienced during this challenging time.”
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The second chosen poem was by Hebe Young, age 13, who said: “I met Irina when I went to a The Library Presents event.
“When I saw this competition, I had to enter! I am really pleased I won! I love the result so much.”
A section from Sophie Bell's comic strip. Picture: Babylon Arts - Credit: Babylon Arts
Artist, Irina Richards said “I feel fortunate to have been part of the Comic Book Windows project. It felt good to be able to work with Babylon Arts and the public - the response was fantastic.
“I especially enjoyed the poetry component of the project - the poems were full of sincerity and raw emotion, turning them into poetry comics was an amazing experience.
“The project showed that despite the challenges and restrictions that the lockdown has brought about, the need for the arts and creativity is greater than ever.”
The winning poems will be on display in the windows of the Babylon Gallery from July 8 to 30 and will feature in a planned exhibition at the Babylon Gallery later this year.
Hebe Young. Picture: Babylon Arts - Credit: Babylon Arts
This exhibition comprised three separate comic ‘strips’, two based on Irina’s own stories and one using poems submitted by the public.
To view the winning work, visit: www.babylonarts.org.uk/projects/comic-book-windows
A section from Hebe Young's comic strip. Picture: Babylon Arts - Credit: Babylon Arts
