Judges' comments

Who is the source of all questions and answers for the artist? Who is most familiar to him and at the same time remains the greatest mystery? What model constantly accompanies the creator throughout his life? Himself. Perhaps that is why the self portrait genre is so interesting. Manuel Šumberac, in his series of illustrations, went even further. He depicted not the external appearance, but the internal state. It is a kind of personal diary. A chronicle of feelings.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

Super striking work. I really like how each piece has its own unique energy while still feeling like part of a series. The way the forms melt and shift around the head is really expressive—feels emotional but also controlled. The color palettes are bold and super intentional, and the flow of the shapes keeps the eye moving. Visually rich and very personal.

Max Liu

The artist incorporates various elements into the facial features and experiments with optical illusion effects. The use of vivid colors and bold outlines leaves a strong and lasting impression.

Moon Q

The series by Manuel Šumberac stands out for its cinematic atmosphere and dramatic tonal contrast. The images evoke a strong sense of suspense and isolation, achieved through limited color palette and stylized use of light and shadow. There is a clear narrative progression involving the fox, where sharp compositions and graphic silhouettes create tension and movement. Despite minimal elements, the scenes feel emotionally charged and immersive, almost like stills from an animated short.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

From this group of works, it can be seen that the artist has a relatively mature creative experience, a unique artistic language that is entirely personalised and owned by himself, which makes me feel impressive. In addition, I also appreciate his use of colour, whether similar or contrasting colours or intense two-colour mixing. All of these are reflected in his images, which have a sense of harmony that is pleasing to the eye.

Yimin Wang

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