![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5c9b4685e67343b6856eeaa179dd8fc684189a462f819436421b1ed537568b45/CarmenReina_KonPaper_19.jpg)
kon-paper /Editorial illustrations
kon-paper Magazin für Kultur und Literatur is an annual magazine that brings together a rich mix of poetry, essays, interviews and more written content where each issue is dedicated to a main theme. It is based between Munich and Berlin and is also printed with degradable ink on recycled paper.
Issue 7 focuses on the theme of "skin", a concept that is omnipresent this year. Inspired by the interesting texts that the kon-paper team carefully curated, I created a series of deities and other small illustrations that aimed not only to illustrate these texts but also to add another narrative layer to the theme.
Graphic Design: Julia Hell
Editor-in-Chief: Pia Lobodzinski
kon-paper Magazin für Kultur und Literatur is an annual magazine that brings together a rich mix of poetry, essays, interviews and more written content where each issue is dedicated to a main theme. It is based between Munich and Berlin and is also printed with degradable ink on recycled paper.
Issue 7 focuses on the theme of "skin", a concept that is omnipresent this year. Inspired by the interesting texts that the kon-paper team carefully curated, I created a series of deities and other small illustrations that aimed not only to illustrate these texts but also to add another narrative layer to the theme.
Graphic Design: Julia Hell
Editor-in-Chief: Pia Lobodzinski
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5009de08ea219818e330be24af1732a6d1e6d0dcca5c6ce57c171bb5c4e09d87/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST.jpg)
The Temple
With its reference to the long-forgotten temples (plus a touch of Lovecraft mixed with the Moloch machine from Metropolis), the illustration on the cover of kon-paper No.7 invites the reader to rediscover the skin and celebrate it in its diversity.
With its reference to the long-forgotten temples (plus a touch of Lovecraft mixed with the Moloch machine from Metropolis), the illustration on the cover of kon-paper No.7 invites the reader to rediscover the skin and celebrate it in its diversity.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ee0836bd063448b3b01928662d95a7581982ca4dc7519370305e9b93e5a31441/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST4.jpg)
The Sage
This enlightened deity embodies the role of the skin in rituals. Resembling a wise master of ceremonies, their hands are a symbol of body language and communication.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f9f0259847a2b75ea2f30064d148820fe4952ac32ea825aae6b80f7df2b6a759/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST2.jpg)
The Shaman
This deity shows the connection between skin and nature. She knows neither shame nor taboos and is driven solely by her own knowledge and a wild, unpredictable energy.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ec82e38e18a5d20e388940d3a2230dc38e91373bf94450f6aa7c7f93f07bf6ca/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST6.jpg)
The Drag Queen
This fierce deity represents the power of the skin as a canvas and its potential for transformation: the revealing art of drag as the supreme means of destabilizing gender boundaries like a second fluid skin.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6799cbf64aa7adeb24980be31ff496d8f6c92b61262f79c63762293fe809b57a/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST8.jpg)
The Technocrat(s)
An experimental deity, whose technologically modified, multi-layered skin is in constant modification. Their cloned bodies are simultaneously haunted forever by the same science that keeps them alive.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe6b4b22503699cf3b1067516a3e908281d37d1162ccc7da2c55c8c89f27f3e8/CarmenR_KonPaper_CoverSketch.jpg)
All illustrations are hand drawn on paper.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/318a0491b1e2dbbbdc790e3f1c8a61813c3452c9994dd0da8938710c0ea8d619/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST13.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7b9a14dea369bc3791e5eff25feb028d1f87619a0b67c37d9efb7f1ce74b3ae9/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST12.jpg)
The inner pages include extra illustrations that depict more abstract visualisations of “skin”.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cf5fbfcb5739025dd919c8951b5185739eea426bc565be8e3ca37ae99df1a7a8/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST10.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/80c133dcabd2a9575ada79ec803cd16675027a180744873e632720f92c77540b/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST11.jpg)
This one represents a pile of skin detached from the human body.
It also has eyes.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7cc60ddbfcdaeac5cc1f9a354d2aa4837c595689e301eaa18becbaf67f85c3bd/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST14.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/53c42c3c79c31bbf7d9a51f3a213c3ec3a9482846749a93892eb52826fe0457f/201022_ILLUSTRATIONEN_IG_POST15.jpg)
Many of these are inspired by research around artistic projects using artificial skin.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d554b4c859b97b98f5424ce459a8eafebd08aafe5a734d1bec233c805ad1ddc7/CarmenReina_KonPaper_03.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/abaaa2ce7da176de91f639cbbca6b21baf1d71cabb84778a5391cbbc2ec04dda/CarmenReina_KonPaper_16.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/694367c85fc4d51863ada854ff3a8fecf6acfadba32289d1e14a69c00f0e59cd/CarmenReina_KonPaper_15.jpg)