Balhae Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka by Ziwan Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award Hao in Hana Noʻeau Kikohoʻe Competition Category.

HaoHana Noʻeau Kikohoʻe· 2024

Balhae Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka

by Ziwan Li

Client: Ziwan Li

A' Design Award Hao Winner in Hana Noʻeau Kikohoʻe Category

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Colors

The Design

About Balhae Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka

Ka mōʻaukala o ka papahana e pili ana iā Junghyae ka haumāna a me kona kumu, ʻo Master Yoo, i kono ʻia i ke kūlanakauhale o Gyeru no ka hoʻopau ʻana i nā ʻuhane mai ka moana mai. Wehe mai ko lāua huakaʻi i ka moʻomeheu o Balhae a me nā hana kilokilo. Hoʻomanaʻo kēia papahana hoʻolālā mea kanaka i ka noho ʻāina o Balhae, e kālele ana i ka moʻolelo a me ka manaʻo hoihoi. ʻO ka hoihoi nui o ka mea hana kiʻi i ka moʻolelo, i ka moʻomeheu, a me ke kāhiko, ʻaʻole wale nō e hoʻopiha ana i kēia papahana hoʻolālā me ka nani ʻike maka a me ka haʻi moʻolelo hana, akā hoʻohui pū ʻia me ke kaumaha moʻolelo a me kekahi paʻi mele.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hao

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Balhae Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka i ka A' Design Award Hao, he ʻike hoʻohanohano i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā maikaʻi e hoʻokō ana i nā koi ʻoihana a ʻoihana hana i manaʻo ʻia mai nā mea hoʻokumu i hana maikaʻi ʻia. Hōʻike nā lanakila Hao i ka mākau nui, ka loea kiʻekiʻe, ka ʻike akamai a me ka hiki hana noʻeau o ka poʻe i hana iā lākou. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Balhae Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka he mea hoʻokumu i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia e pono a hou. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Hao e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka ʻoihana a loaʻa nā ʻano ʻenehana mākaukau i hui pū ʻia me ka ʻike hana a me ka makakoho. Mahalo ʻia ka hoʻolālā Balhae Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka no kona nānā pono a ua hoʻolālā ʻia e hāʻawi i nā hoʻomaikaʻi ola e kōkua ai i ka hana ʻana i ka honua i wahi maikaʻi aku.

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.