“Never before did I realize that mental illness could have the aspect of power. Think of it: perhaps the more insane a man is, the more powerful he could become.”

— Ken Kesey

A competition entry for a Penguin book cover ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ is a simple yet bold illustration depicting the main protagonist (Randel McMurphy) a free-spirited, rebellious con man and the hand of ‘Nurse Ratched’ the tyrannical head nurse of the mental institution, who exercises near-total control over those in her care. The imagery of the spanner is a direct representation of the invisible forms of discipline and power that the patients within the facility experience.

Deliverables: Illustration, Book cover design

Application: Competition entry