Judges' comments

This is a kind of topic that is not often raised, unfortunately. I am talking about fear, which has turned into a phobia. It is difficult for people who are not familiar with this problem to understand its seriousness. And those who suffer from phobias often do not risk talking about it out loud, fearing sarcasm and misunderstanding. In the end, fear can turn its victim into a hermit and take away their hope for a happy life. As a person who has experienced this disease, I want to say thank you to Xiaoyang Sun. Thanks to her illustrations, many children and adults stop feeling alone and misunderstood by society.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

Sun’s work shows a nice richness of color and textures—it feels both fairytale nostalgic and fresh. Each piece carries a strong narrative, and I appreciate the sense of immersiveness. That said, I think the composition and shape language could be more carefully considered to make the storytelling clearer—like showing more clearly what’s happening and who the main character is.

Max Liu

At first glance, the world depicted seems bright and beautiful, but it subtly hides deeper layers. The lively and cheerful colors initially catch the eye, but a closer look at the details reveals subtle nuances. For example, in the second illustration, the world bathed in light appears charming and delightful — yet in the shadows, everything seems to twist and distort, evoking a sense of fear. This contrast effectively captures the theme of the work.

Moon Q

Xiaoyan Sun’s work blends a playful, picture book–like aesthetic with layered metaphors and unusual perspectives. Her compositions are filled with warmth, dynamic light, and expressive animal or human characters. Painterly textures and carefully controlled palettes enhance the storytelling, often suggesting childhood or dreamlike states. The style feels familiar and accessible, yet clever in concept and execution.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

What attracts me to this group of works is that the artist has made the concept of 'fear' tangible, attenuated and visualised. Through ingenious colour combinations and shapes, the artist deconstructs and reshapes this abstract concept, relieving people's anxiety and uneasiness about fear itself. At the same time, the work offers the viewer (like me) the possibility to face their inner fears.

Yimin Wang

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