Matt Willey and Camille Walala among artists going circular for Earth Hour

This Saturday 28 March at 8:30pm (wherever you are in the world) it’s Earth Hour, a WWF initiative launched in 2007 to join the global population in a mere hour of switching off to save the planet. To mark this year’s event and raise funds for the cause, Brighton-based design studio Evermade has enlisted a first-rate group of 26 illustrators and artists, including Pentagram partner Matt Willey and pattern maestro Camille Walala, to create artworks within the confines of a circle to celebrate our world as a whole and respond to the climate crisis of today.

Also taking part are Marylou Faure, Craig & Karl, Martina Paukova, Peter Judson, Supermundane, Amelia Graham, Archie Proudfoot, Barbara Malagoli, Benjamin Craven, Cristina Daura, Diane Bresson, Giacomo Bagnara, Hola Lou, James Wilson, Jenni Sparks, Linnéa Andersson, Louise Jones, Mireia Ruiz, Paul Thurlby, Ricardo Cavolo, Robyn Carey, Ryan Carl, Sarah Gordon and Yeye Weller.

Each artist has brought their individual viewpoint to the brief to explore how we can collectively protect our planet. Willey has worked with photographer Giles Revell to create an abstract, textured image, while Peter Judson’s op-art style piece is similarly monochromatic. In colourful contrast are the works of Supermundane, who has interwoven text with pattern, and Paukova, who has brought her signature charm to her piece titled Team Trees, showing a character hugging a circular formation of foliage.

Amelia Graham says of her piece: “I wanted to represent the dichotomy between the natural and man made world by contrasting botanical and rigid forms, the symbiotic yet fractured nature of our relationship with the plant rendered in the sliced forms and earthy tones. The deep cadmium orange of the central circle course depicts the heating up of the planet as global temperatures rise.”

Brazilian London-based illustrator Bárbara Malagoli says her piece looks at the idea of “humans being part of the earth as a seed that needs sunlight and the ecosystem around it to be able to grow and contemplate the universe.”

The limited edition (100 of each), 610mm square prints will be sold online with all profits (58 percent of net sales) donated to WWF. They are printed on FSC certified paper and packaged in plastic-free recycled packaging. Pre-order is available now with shipping from 28 March 2020.

Also, WWF has shared advice for how participants can observe Earth Hour digitally this year.