Kristen Lum
Breakthrough
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An illustrated journey through the mind of a disillusioned creative
Breakthrough is an illustrated graphic novel centred around an art student, who upon realising she has lost her passions, finds herself in a strange dimension formed inside her mind. In order to escape it, she must rediscover her love and inspiration for the path she has decided to follow.
The purpose of this project was to explore ideas surrounding identity, particularly career identity, and finding, or rediscovering oneself. The storyline of the novel draws upon my personal journey as an artist and illustrator, and my experiences with losing and regaining my creative passions. Creating this novel employed skills in creative expression to help visualise the narrative.
Throughout the story, the protagonist experiences real life struggles transformed into metaphorical scenarios, which informs the visuals. The style and format pays tribute to my love of manga, with some of the illustrations done to replicate classic greyscale manga pages, mixed with my personal colouring style.
The resulting outcome is intended to resonate with others who are studying or working in creative industries, as well as inspire young creatives in their own journeys.
