As part of effort to increase public awareness on scientific illustrations and provide an opportunity for people to appreciate the true beauty of indigenous species, the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) has held Scientific Illustration Contest annually from 2006. The subject is Korean indigenous species excluding cultivated or foreign originated plants and animals.
Strix aluco (2014/2014) by Kim JaehwanNational Institute of Biological Resources
Scientific drawing or illustration refers to a style of drawing to convey exact information of animals and plants with a minimum of artistic interpretation. Using delicate and sophisticated touch of brush technique and harmony of colors, scientific illustration depicts unique characteristics of living creatures with more precision and detail than photos do, recognized as a distinctive field where arts and science are mingled together.
Owl(Strix aluco), Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ of Korea, Kim Jaehwan, 2014
Botaurus stellaris (2014/2014) by Kim JiminNational Institute of Biological Resources
Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Kim Jimin, 2014
Columba rupestris (2015/2015) by Jin GyeongsunNational Institute of Biological Resources
Hill pigeon(Columba rupestris)
Jin Gyeongsun, 2015
Upupa epops (2015/2015) by Seong SiwonNational Institute of Biological Resources
Hoopoe(Upupa epops)
Seong Siwon, 2015
Dendrocopos major (2015/2015) by Lee JihyeonNational Institute of Biological Resources
Great spotted woodpecker(Dendrocopos major)
Lee Jihyeon, 2015
Cuculus canorus, Paradoxornis webbianus (2015/2015) by Nam SeonghunNational Institute of Biological Resources
Common cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) and Vinous-throated parrotbill(Paradoxornis webbianus)
Nam Seonghun, 2015
Gallicrex cinerea (2014/2014) by Jin GyeongsunNational Institute of Biological Resources
Watercock(Gallicrex cinerea) female and male
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ of Korea
Jin Gyeongsun, 2014
Martes flavigula (2014/2014) by Jeon SujeongNational Institute of Biological Resources
Yellow-throated marten(Martes flavigula)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Jeon Sujeong, 2014
Vulpes vulpes (2015/2015) by Kim JuncheolNational Institute of Biological Resources
Red fox(Vulpes vulpes)
Kim Juncheol, 2015
Phoca largha (2015/2015) by Hong HyejinNational Institute of Biological Resources
Spotted seal(Phoca largha)
Hong Hyejin, 2015
Pteromys volans (2015/2015) by Ko MiyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources
Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Ko Miyeong, 2015
Eremias argus (2015/2015) by Sin YujeongNational Institute of Biological Resources
Mongolia racerunner(Eremias argus)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Sin Yujeong, 2015
Cambaroides similis (2014/2014) by Lim DongsinNational Institute of Biological Resources
Crayfish(Cambaroides similis)
Lim Dongsin, 2014
Oncotympana fuscata (2015/2015) by Jo HyerimNational Institute of Biological Resources
Robust cicada(Oncotympana fuscata)
Jo Hyerim, 2015
Nannophya pygmaea (2014/2014) by Lee SeonhwaNational Institute of Biological Resources
Scarlet Dwarf(Nannophya pygmaea)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Lee Seonhwa, 2014
Inachis io (2014/2014) by Kim JuncheolNational Institute of Biological Resources
European Peacock(Inachis io)
Kim Juncheol, 2014
Shirakiacris shirakii (2015/2015) by Ryu JieunNational Institute of Biological Resources
Calliptamus abbreviatus(Shirakiacris shirakii)
Ryu Jieun, 2015
Rubus oldhamii, Papilio xuthus (2015/2015) by Ahn MigyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources
Korean creeping raspberry(Rubus oldhamii) and Asian swallowtail(Papilio xuthus)
Ahn Migyeong, 2015
Aristolochia contorta, Sericinus montela (2015/2015) by Kim JiyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources
Aristolochia contorta Bunge(Aristolochia contorta) and Dragon Swallowtail(Sericinus montela)
Kim Jiyeong, 2015
Abeliophyllum distichum (2014/2014) by Lim EunhyeNational Institute of Biological Resources
Korean abelialeaf(Abeliophyllum distichum)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Lim Eunhye, 2014
Vitex rotundifolia (2014/2014) by Bae HyeryeonNational Institute of Biological Resources
Roundleaf chastetree(Vitex rotundifolia)
Bae Hyeryeon, 2014
Impatiens textori (2014/2014) by Jung YunmiNational Institute of Biological Resources
Impatiens(Impatiens textori)
Jung Yunmi, 2014
Aeschynomene indica (2014/2014) by Park ChanaeNational Institute of Biological Resources
Indian jointvetch(Aeschynomene indica)
Park Chanae, 2014
Hemistepta lyrata (2014/2014) by Cho HyeonsukNational Institute of Biological Resources
Hemistepta lyrata
Cho Hyeonsuk, 2014
Rhodeus uyekii (2014/2014) by Park HyeyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources
Scientific drawings describe shapes and features of living organisms in a way closer to real life that cameras can’t capture. This type of drawing better conveys information on micro organs and their structure and species-typical features by realistically depicting living creatures or the process of their growth. For this reason, scientific illustration has a significant role to play in acrademia even today where there has been huge progress in photography. Scientific drawings use stippling and simple line techniques so they are generally black-and-white. They usually come with scale bars to represent actual size of living objects.
Korean Rose Bitterling(Rhodeus uyekii), Park Hyeyeong, 2014
Eriocheir sinensis (2014/2014) by Kim JonghwanNational Institute of Biological Resources
Chinese mitten crab(Eriocheir sinensis)
Kim Jonghwan, 2014
Pulsatilla cernua var. koreana (2015/2015) by Woo EunjuNational Institute of Biological Resources
Pulsatilla cernua var. Koreana
Woo Eunju, 2015
Callipogon relictus (2015/2015) by Choi EunjiNational Institute of Biological Resources
Callipogon relictus
Choi Eunji, 2015
Araneus mitificus (2015/2015) by Lee JunhoNational Institute of Biological Resources
Kidney garden spider(Araneus mitificus)
Lee Junho, 2015
Plecoglossus altivelis (2014/2014) by Jeong HangilNational Institute of Biological Resources
Ayu(Plecoglossus altivelis)
Jeong Hangil, 2014
