Judges' comments

In his works, Ian Jun Wei Chiew combines the seemingly incompatible. This is a rather risky technique, but the artist is ready to go for bold experiments and free his imagination. This is the path of a pioneer. The path of an artist. He is not afraid of being misunderstood, because history is created by the brave ones.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

Solid and bold design. The color choices are striking, and the outlines help unify the form. Great balance between big, medium, and small shapes—feels confident and complete.

Max Liu

This series is filled with a sense of fantasy. Each piece features intricate and peculiar details, as if taking the viewer on a journey through a fantastical realm — and yet, a closer look reveals traditional elements woven within. The treatment of space and perspective enhances the immersive quality of the illustrations, with the 3D spatial construction inviting viewers to explore further.

Moon Q

Ian Jun Wei Chiew’s works demonstrate a high level of technical mastery and complex visual storytelling. Each scene is packed with rich detail, playful world-building, and imaginative characters that draw the viewer into an alternate universe. The stylization is confident, and the use of color and form reinforces the surreal yet cohesive atmosphere. Excellent sense of scale and composition — these are illustrations you want to explore again and again.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

The artist's work is highly personal and carries a futuristic vibe. For me, his illustrations engage in a profound interrogation of technology, culture, and the realm of the ineffable. In Coming of Spring, the figural composition in the foreground conjures an uncanny evocation of Annibale Carracci's Landscape with the Flight into Egypt. This synthesis of religious allusion, mystical undertones, and codified motifs interwoven with architectonic elements, constructing an open space to invite readers' multilayered interpretation.

Yimin Wang

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