Maria Elorza Saralegui

BA (Hons) Illustration

I use illustration as a research tool, playing with dualities to make sense of surrounding realities.

Sitting against the familiar background of debates about ‘post-truth’, ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ my work challenges the idea of one universal truth by exploring the variety, complexity, and diversity of truths experienced in everyday life. My investigation culminates in The Printed Word, an illustrated reportage publication. I find reportage illustration very interesting as it sits between journalistic practices, providing perhaps more subjective ways of portraying truth.

The work aims to offer a variety of perspectives and remind the viewer that a story can be constructed from many accounts, and reality perceived from many levels.

The result is a liminal landscape of delicate artist’s books arranged in conversation with each other. These books open an in-between space, leaving room for the unsaid, for potential conversations and for the viewer to find their own glimpses of truth.


Rwy’n defnyddio darlunio fel adnodd ymchwil, gan chwarae gyda deuoliaeth i wneud synnwyr o wirioneddau o’n hamgylch.

Ochr yn ochr â’r cefndir cyfarwydd o ddadleuon am ‘ôl-wirionedd’, ‘newyddion ffug’ a ‘ffeithiau amgen’ mae fy ngwaith yn herio’r syniad o un gwirionedd cyffredinol drwy archwilio amrywiaeth a chymhlethdod y gwirioneddau sy’n cael eu profi mewn bywyd bob dydd. Mae fy ymchwiliad yn gorffen gyda The Printed Word, cyhoeddiad sy’n croniclo gyda darluniau. Rwy’n credu bod croniclo trwy ddarluniau’n ddiddorol iawn gan ei fod yn eistedd rhwng arferion newyddiadurol, gan ddarparu ffyrdd mwy gwrthrychol o gyfleu’r gwirionedd efallai.

Mae’r gwaith yn ceisio cynnig amrywiaeth o safbwyntiau ac yn atgoffa’r gwyliwr y gellir creu stori o nifer o adroddiadau, ac y gellir canfod realiti ar sawl lefel.

Y canlyniad yw tirlun trothwyol o lyfrau cain artistiaid wedi’u trefnu mewn sgwrs â’i gilydd. Mae’r llyfrau hyn yn agor gofod rhyngol, yn gadael lle ar gyfer pethau heb eu dweud, ar gyfer sgyrsiau posibl ac i’r gwyliwr ganfod ei gipolygon ei hun ar y gwirionedd.

Other Exhibitors:

Imogen Miles

Imogen Miles

My current project looks into the story of St Dwynwen, a Welsh princess who became a saint- the welsh patron St of Lovers. She is celebrated throughout wales on the 25th of January. I was interested in this story after hearing about St Dwynwens day and doing some...

Katie Andrews

Katie Andrews

Reconnecting and rebuilding our relationship with the natural world is as vital as ever. My illustration practice focuses on creating educational and decorative patterned homeware and giftware products which will inspire people to become more in sync and appreciative...

Monika Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska

Monika Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska

My project is a response to a brief inspired by the Apila’s First Printing Award 2022. The aim was to create a fully illustrated children’s book based on a story of my choice – ‘The Frog Princess’ by A. J. Gliński. I wanted to combine the Polish culture with my...

Ellen Richards

Ellen Richards

As ân artist, I am particularly interested in creating work which explores subjects which are tailored to a certain demographic. The topics are relevant and meaningful to a specific individual, whether it be something they have experienced in their past or are...

Polly Allburn

Polly Allburn

My illustration work has culminated in an experimental assortment of objects that communicate the interconnected relationship between parent and child. Breaking down the power dynamic and allowing for a collaborative experience where parents can empathise with their...

Thalia Dougourou

Thalia Dougourou

Using both visual and lexical storytelling, I explore African history and culture while investigating its absence in the learning of young black students. Growing up in the UK, I became aware that the black history being taught in schools did not go beyond slavery,...