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Press Release

Night Tale Illustration

A' Design Award 2025 Iron Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design

18 April 2025

Night Tale Illustration by Wenxu Zhao
Night Tale Illustration by Wenxu Zhao
Night Tale Illustration by Wenxu Zhao
Night Tale Illustration by Wenxu Zhao
Night Tale Illustration by Wenxu Zhao

Wenxu Zhao · CLIENT: Strawberry Fish Girl

Night Tale is an illustration series that follows the journey of the Strawberry Fish Girl on a summer night. The series blends fantasy and surrealism to present an open ended story. Each scene places the character among large animals, flowers and plants, which serve as metaphors for inner thoughts, goals and curiosity. The illustrations are created digitally at high resolution, so fine details stay clear at large sizes. The work can be shown as prints, as large projections, or as an immersive installation covering the walls of an interior space.

Press Kit

Unique Properties
The work is an illustrated series depicting the whimsical journey of Strawberry Fish Girl on a summer night. Blending fantasy and surrealism, it invites viewers into a world where imagination flows freely. Each detail whispers fragments of an open ended tale.
Dimensions & Packaging
17x22 inches (each), 600 dpi. Flexible sizing based on medium and usage.
Tags
illustration, children's illustration, fantasy, animals, dream world, summer night
Production Technology
The illustrations are digitally created using Photoshop and other graphic design software, allowing for high resolution detail and intricate artistry. The original works are large scale, designed to showcase a rich tapestry of fine details when viewed up close or projected onto expansive surfaces.
Design Challenge
The challenge is to artfully integrate childlike innocence, fantasy, and mystery into illustrations rich with intricate details, while maintaining a sense of visual unity and storytelling coherence.
Project Duration
The work was originally created in 2022, New York City, USA, and revised in 2024, New Jersey, USA.
Operation Flow
The illustrations can be showcased as traditional artworks in an exhibition, projected onto large outdoor screens on summer nights, or enveloping all four walls of an expansive indoor space, creating an immersive, dreamlike experience where the audience can step directly into the enchanting world of the paintings.
Research
This project began with the creation of the Strawberry Fish Girl, a whimsical character embodying innocence, mystery, and fantasy. Building upon her image, a series of illustrations were developed, exploring her actions, surroundings, and interactions with her dreamlike environment. Through an introspective creative process, I crafted a narrative that serves as an honest reflection of their inner world, weaving together a story filled with childlike wonder and gentle mystery.

Each illustration carefully incorporates floral elements, plants, and animals, meticulously designed to contribute to the immersive dreamscape. Using digital tools such as Photoshop, the work balances intricate details and visual unity, resulting in a collection that is both technically refined and emotionally resonant. Whether presented as traditional prints, large scale projections, or immersive installations, the series invites viewers to step into a delicate, otherworldly world shaped by imagination and introspection.
Inspiration
This illustration series draws inspiration from my self reflection and dreams. I’ve visualized my self ego through a mystical, dreamlike world, where the interaction between the Strawberry Fish Girl and large animals becomes a metaphor for my inner landscape. Each animal symbolizes a part of me, my goals, my ideas, and my curiosity, weaving together a tale that bridges imagination and introspection.

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