Judges' comments

Yanjun Chen's characters are confined to a space in which they feel cramped. The walls seem to narrow around them, and they have to push with their feet and elbows to stop this movement, or they will be crushed. The body language, the format, the patterns on the fabrics—everything looks very symbolic. Here, under the external aesthetics, there is a strong emotion that requires an outlet.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

Really strong sense of order, composition, and shape design. The bold silhouettes, heights, and patterns bring the piece to life—feels like a perfect mix of surreal and decorative. Maybe try introducing a bit more color variation to add some extra depth, without breaking the current palette.

Max Liu

The bold, vivid use of color and striking character design leave a lasting impression. The girl is placed in a confined space, evoking a palpable sense of emotional pressure.

Moon Q

Yanjun Chen’s works stand out with their sculptural, granite-like quality, achieved through bold form simplification and a strong, limited color palette. The attention to texture adds depth and a tactile feel, while the stylized compositions create a unique rhythm. These pieces feel solid, grounded, and refined — a great example of balancing minimalism and expressiveness.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

The girls in the paintings both have a defensive beauty that transcends beyond general awareness. It is completely individual, mysterious and fragile. The two works have cold and warm tones, which seem to me to be some kind of metaphor for the dual nature of the subjects' inner portrayal.

Yimin Wang

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