Judges' comments

Illustrations that can tell a story without words. "The Silent Book." I love this genre so much. You need to have a skill to give your work a "voice." So the viewer would not need any hints in the form of text and can follow just the visual images. But most importantly, this genre creates a warm feeling of unity. Like a universal language that is familiar to everyone, regardless of nationality, education, and gender.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

This series is absolutely delightful. The color palette is rich and lush but still feels airy and clean. I love the way blank spaces are used to balance out the dense foliage—really smart control of visual rhythm. Narratively, it's engaging and easy to follow, with strong storytelling through composition. Feels playful and immersive at the same time. Curious to see how the journey unfolds.

Max Liu

It is clear that the artist has skillfully portrayed the dense forest and grasslands. The various shades of green give the image a strong sense of depth. The use of negative space prevents the green areas from appearing cluttered, instead emphasizing their lushness, while also making the details in the blank areas easier to distinguish. The composition features a rich variety of angles, adding further visual interest.

Moon Q

Zhe Niu’s work invites the viewer into a calm and immersive forest journey, where every composition balances rich detail with intentional white space. The contrast between dense greenery and blank surroundings creates a rhythmic pacing, guiding the eye like footsteps on a trail. Stylized forms and subtle texture convey a sense of quiet observation, while the high perspective and use of animal tracks suggest a gentle narrative of discovery. This project reflects confident visual economy and a sensitive connection to nature.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

The artist's ingenious use of white space in the picture, leaving the open forest and distant sky boldly white, gives the viewer a sense of natural harmony and rhythm, which aligns with the theme of embarking on an adventure in the forest. Additionally, the artist initiates his visual narrative from diverse perspectives, such as eye-level view, overhead view and low-angle shot. This not only enriches pictorial expression, but also provides the viewer with a novel visual experience.

Yimin Wang

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