Original 1989 GCSE Art Exam Piece – Tang K Y – Crowd Scene Illustration

A striking and surreal original artwork created in May 1989 as part of a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Art & Design exam, submitted under the Southern Examining Group. The artist, Tang K Y, produced this large and detailed crowd scene illustration, capturing an almost chaotic supermarket setting.

The composition is filled with expressive faces and exaggerated gestures: figures jostling for space, someone raising a Heinz ketchup bottle aloft, a hand clutching a Bold detergent box, and shopping baskets crammed with everyday goods like cheese puffs and vegetables. The scene is humorous, slightly grotesque, and deeply human, an almost caricatured slice of late 1980s life.

Executed in pencil, pen, and coloured wash, the piece is packed with detail and energy. Everyday branding and shop signs, such as "Tinned Tomatoes 65p," help root the work in its late 80s moment. The exam label remains attached, confirming the date (May 1989), subject, and candidate details, adding to its provenance.

Details:

Original artwork, not a print

Medium: pencil, ink, and coloured wash on paper

Size: 42 cm x 60 cm

Date: May 1989

Provenance: Southern Examining Group GCSE submission label attached

Condition: Good for age, with light handling wear from storage

This piece would appeal to collectors of outsider art, GCSE memorabilia, 1980s ephemera, or anyone drawn to bold, raw, and expressive illustration. Own a one-of-a-kind 1989 GCSE art exam piece today, add this rare crowd scene illustration to your collection.