Balhae Karakterdesign by Ziwan Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award i Jern in Digital Kunst Competition Category.

JernDigital Kunst· 2024

Balhae Karakterdesign

by Ziwan Li

Client: Ziwan Li

A' Design Award i Jern Winner in Digital Kunst Category

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The Design

About Balhae Karakterdesign

Projektets baggrund følger lærlingen Junghyae og hendes mentor, Mester Yoo, som er blevet kaldt til Gyeru-landsbyen for at forjage ånder fra havene. Deres rejse afslører Balhaes kultur og mystiske praksisser. Dette karakterdesignprojekt hylder Balhaes civilisation og blander historie og fantasi. Kunstnerens fascination for historie, kultur og mode giver ikke blot dette designprojekt æstetisk appel og funktionel historiefortælling, men tilføjer også en følelse af historisk tyngde og et strejf af poesi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Jern

Balhae Karakterdesign er vinder af A' Design Award i Jern, en prestigefyldt anerkendelse, der tildeles gode designs, som opfylder de professionelle og industrielle krav, man forventer af veldesignede skabelser. Jernvinderne viser stor dygtighed, høj specialisering, ekspertforståelse og kreativ kapacitet hos deres skabere. Balhae Karakterdesign forventes at være en højt estimeret, beundret og kær skabelse, der er praktisk og innovativ. Dette design, der har vundet A' Design Award i Jern, integrerer branchens bedste praksis og har kompetente tekniske egenskaber knyttet til knowhow og talent. Balhae Karakterdesign respekteres for sin grundighed og er designet til at levere forbedringer af livskvaliteten, der er med til at gøre verden til et bedre sted.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Set in the flourishing ancient kingdom of Balhae, 926 CE, this story follows apprentice Junghyae and her mentor, Master Yoo, called to Gyeru village. Tasked with banishing spirits from the shallow seas to ensure safe mermaid hunting for the locals, their journey illuminates the era's rich culture and mystical practices. This character design project is a visual homage to Balhae's lost civilization, blending history and fantasy through art.
Dimensions & Packaging: size: 127 cm * 127 cm, 300 dpi
Tags: 2D, Character Design, Digital Arts, Fantasy, History
Production Technology: Character designs in this series are designed with pencil and rendered in Procreate software and Photoshop CC software.
Design Challenge: Balhae was a historical kingdom that was conquered by the Khitans in 926 CE. Its legacy is somewhat enigmatic due to the scarcity of surviving artifacts, artworks, or detailed contemporary accounts about its culture, as it faded from history centuries ago. Undertaking a project to resurrect Balhae's rich cultural tapestry without abundant reference material was a formidable challenge.
Research: To reconstruct the lost civilization of Balhae authentically, I extensively researched historical descriptions, geographical studies, and neighboring societies. This included delving into customs, religious practices, military strength, and climate conditions of nearby regions like the Tang Dynasty, Khitans, Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla. Synthesizing this data, I engaged in speculation to envision Balhae's unique cultural identity, creating a credible representation of its vibrant society. This project aimed to honor Balhae's historical significance and imagine the daily lives of its people.
Inspiration: The artist is deeply fascinated by the nuances of history, culture, and historical fashion. They delved into the history of the lost kingdom of Balhae, marveling at the richness and vibrancy of a culture that thrived thousands of years ago. They felt a profound sense of loss for such cultures that have vanished in the tides of history. Inspired by Balhae's legacy, they embarked on a creative journey to resurrect this long-forgotten culture through a fantasy narrative.
Project Duration: 2 months, Los Angeles, January 2022
Operation Flow: The key of this design lies in reviving lost cultures through a meticulous fusion of imagination and the scant textual references sourced by the artist from academic literature, paintings, and sculptures of neighboring countries associated with the lost culture. By imaginatively blending these elements, the artist breathes life into the forgotten cultural narratives.
Patents: Image #1: Image Ziwan Li, Master Yoo Traveling Outfit, 2022.
Image #2: Image Ziwan Li, Apprentice Junghyae, 2022.
Image #3: Image Ziwan Li, Apprentice Junghyae Ritual Outfit, 2022. 2022.
Image #4: Image Ziwan Li, Mermaid, 2022.
Image Credits: Image #1: Image Ziwan Li, Master Yoo Traveling Outfit, 2022.
Image #2: Image Ziwan Li, Apprentice Junghyae, 2022.
Image #3: Image Ziwan Li, Apprentice Junghyae Ritual Outfit, 2022. 2022.
Image #4: Image Ziwan Li, Mermaid, 2022.