Donough O’ Malley – ‘Revolution’ Illustration at Fire Finalist

Posted by The Copper House Gallery on December 7, 2011 · 1 Comment 

Donough O’ Malley is an Illustrator and member of the Illustrators Guild of Ireland. Originally from Monaghan, he studied his degree in Illustration at the University of the West of England(Bristol), and afterwards went on to do an M.A. in Narrative and Sequential Design in The University of Brighton. He has worked in many areas from editorial, advertising, fashion and children’s books for clients such as the BBC, Haymarket Publishing, Management Today, Runners World, Estates Gazette, New Internationalist, Frances Lincoln Publishing and Orchard Publishing.

His first Children’s book ‘Monkey See Monkey Do’ was shortlisted for the Cambridge Picture book award. Donough’s illustrations have been exhibited in London, Bristol and Dublin. His work has appeared in publications such as the A.O.I’s Images annual and the 3X3 International directory. He currently spends his time between Dublin and Bristol.

Donough O’ Malley describes the inspiration leading to the finalist piece ‘Orange revolution’ as striking  ”upon the notion of how Revolutions both political and social can happen in any environment, sometimes easily predicted and sometimes not. I wanted to create images that expressed the unlikely and what group we could never forecast to create upheaval.

I settled on a group extremely well known in popular culture and one that was seen as so cute, and so placid, that they would never be expected to revolt against the status quo. This is the Orange Revolution of the Ooompa-Loompas. The title fits perfectly for the illustrations but is also a play on the Orange Revolution that took part in Ukraine from late 2004 to 2005.Using visual language associated with propaganda art of the 20th century, I have shown our little orange friends rising up, having decided enough is enough.

But are they revolting against the Whangdoodles the Hornswogglers or the Snozzywangers? Or has Mister Wonka and Charlie let working conditions sink to an all time low where the workers see that they have no other choice but to rebel?”

Filed under Illustration