Judges' comments

It is not often that we are ready to share our thoughts and experiences with somebody else. Even in the circle of close people. That's why this series of illustrations by Ruici Shi seems even more valuable to me. Throught all the artworks, the artist analyzes her own life experience and the stages of formation and awareness of herself as a person. This is the path from doubts, uncertainty, and a feeling of fragmentation of one's own self to acceptance and harmony. Translating her story into the language of art, the artist uses bright, unexpected images and expressive metaphors. I think these works are truly capable of inspiring any viewer.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

The smoothness in both shape language and overall form structure in this series speaks volumes about the illustrator’s personality. It feels very personal and self-expressive. I really like the warm-cool color distribution and the variation in texture work. One thing I’d like to mention is that some of the secondary or decorative elements could be visually grouped a bit more—this would help reduce the visual chaos in a few of the pieces.

Max Liu

When expressing the abstract concept of self-exploration, the artist employs clever visual techniques. The supporting characters in the work are lively and engaging, and it almost feels as if the protagonist has become the “subject of study” for these supporting figures.

Moon Q

Ruici Shi’s illustrations display confident control over form and composition. With a background in architecture, she balances clarity and structure with expressive details and symbolic layering. Her work skillfully combines irony, metaphor, and narrative rhythm, creating visually rich and intellectually engaging scenes.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

This work has a complex composition that is not cluttered. The elements are interlinked through subtle visual clues, like a treasure map that guides the viewer on a journey of discovery to gather information. With a keen sense of colour, the artist has constructed a distinctive yet harmonious tonal system, demonstrating a unique taste for colour aesthetics. In terms of detailing and character dynamics, the work vividly reproduces the complexity and exploration of the psychological process of 'self-cognition', enabling viewers to experience deep emotional resonance through visual decoding.

Yimin Wang

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