The Folio Society Book Illustration Award 2022

Longlisted for the Folio Book Illustration Award 2022. The topic required to illustrate a scene from the short story, The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe. In early 2022, most parts of the world were still in the grip of the Covid pandemic, and I wanted to convey the feelings described in this abstract story through my art.

The short story emphasizes black and red, so I focused on using simple colors but heavy textures in my work. In this illustration, the Red Death is depicted as a solemn and striking figure.

The main theme of this illustration is that, just as the clock always strikes 12, death treats the world equally and does not discriminate based on money or power. This story, and the situations we have faced, remind us of the importance of solidarity in difficult times. If a disaster like a pandemic strikes, it is critical that everyone work together and support each other, rather than focusing on the interests of a few. Those with power and money will only end up facing destruction if their vision is clouded by greed.