Wendy Wong
Guardian 1, 2021, London UK, digital illustration
Alt text: A figure on the right speaking, shown as a speech bubble - with a hand from above coming down to puncture the bubble with a pin.
Worthless Speech, 2021, London UK, digital illustration
Alt text: Hand from above throwing away a speech bubble into a trash can/bin.
Right Way , 2021, London UK, digital illustration.
Alt text: A figure in the middle with arms up and hands open, mimicking scales. Both hands holding speech bubbles - in the left bubble is written 'correct English' and in the right bubble is written 'broken English'
Guardian 2, 2021, London UK, digital illustration
Alt text: Hand from above squashing a speech bubble of a figure on the left.
Spotlight, 2021, London UK, digital illustration
Two large figures laughing and pointing at a small figure in the middle. The middle figure has their head in their hands, with a spotlight shining down on them.
The work was commissioned by Dr Ian Cushing, as part of a UK Literacy Association funded project called ‘You’ll never be as good as the white kids in their language’: using literature to challenge language discrimination in schools.
The phrase ‘You’ll never be as good…’ comes from a 2018 Young Adult fiction novel Front Desk by the Chinese-American writer Kelly Yang, where a Chinese immigrant girl is stigmatised based on her language - mocked for her accent and ability to speak English.
The images produced were to be published in academic publications and used as part of a 'toolkit' that would be used to educate teachers and students about language discrimination, which has been shared with schools around the UK.
Wendy Wong
is an illustrator, originally from Manchester, now based in London. She studied fashion textiles at the University of the Arts London, graduating with honours in 2014.
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Her style is graphic and uses bold lines and bright colours. She often interprets adult themes, drawn in a childish yet charming way.
Inspired by awkward body shapes, cartoons and her own life experiences, Wendy's illustrations could be described as silly, low-brow, sometimes irreverent but always full of joy, humour and positivity.
