Announcement of Nominations for the 2023 One-Character Contest
Announcement of Nominations for the 2023 One-Character Contest
Thank you very much for participating in the One-Character Contest.
We received over 280 entries, each expressing in a single character the challenges, growth, experiences, and daily life of the past year. The works came from diverse backgrounds and showcased a variety of expressive approaches, making the judging process an engaging experience from many perspectives.
Here, we are pleased to announce the nominated works from among the entries.
Grand Prize [1 Winner]
Excellence Award [3 Winners]
Originality Award [3 Winners]
Hitomoji Award [5 Winners]
Grand Prize
Mr./Ms. kakiyaquzan
The Grand Prize of the Shoyu Online 2023 One-Character Contest has been awarded to Mr./Ms. kakiyaquzan.
[Work Title]
Mother
[Reason for Award]
The composition, created with flowing brush rhythms and expressive, nuanced lines, conveys a profound sense of compassion.
We can also glimpse the artist’s constant pursuit of lines and dedication to their expression.
The unique bleeding effect suggests something overflowing from the character itself.
It is a work that makes one feel the significance of even the dots existing outside the main character.
The thoughts embedded in the writing are powerfully conveyed to the viewer.
We sincerely hope that you will continue to share the beauty of calligraphy through the act of writing.
Excellence Award
The following were selected for the Excellence Award:
- Mr./Ms. 5e_sho
- Mr./Ms. ikuho03
- Mr./Ms. syoei216
These are the winning works.
Excellence Award: 5e_sho
[Work Title]
Movement
[Reason for Award]
I am drawn to the straightforwardness expressed in the character, which also reflects the artist’s inner struggles.
From the part that looks like an eye, I feel its direct appeal, and the words “What is the art of line?” come to mind.
Excellence Award: ikuho03
[Work Title]
Circle
[Reason for Award]
The work fully conveys the charm of lines created by light and flowing brushstrokes combined with imaginative thinking.
The solid dots, unexpected dots, and seal impression all balance well with the blank space, demonstrating a refined sense of aesthetics.
Excellence Award: ikuho03
[Work Title]
Circle
[Reason for Award]
The work fully conveys the charm of lines created by light and flowing brushstrokes combined with imaginative thinking.
The solid dots, unexpected dots, and seal impression all balance well with the blank space, demonstrating a refined sense of aesthetics.
Original Award
The recipients of the Original Award are:
- tenchan0512
- hana_sora_ko
- msy_ymzk
Their works have been selected.
Original Award: tenchan0512
[Work Title]
Release
[Reason for Award]
The contrast of ink tones on the applied washi paper creates a striking presence, and the sense of three-dimensionality is further emphasized by the beautiful paper-cut design.
Original Award: hana_sora_ko
[Work Title]
Hole
[Reason for Award]
It feels as if you are immersed in a world of painting, and the character itself intriguingly begins to resemble a human figure.
Original Award: msy_ymzk
[Work Title]
Light
[Reason for Award]
The character, written with a solid and deliberate hand as if in harmony with the golden edge of the shikishi paper, carries a strong sense of conviction. The dry brushstrokes in the sweeping and flicking strokes also leave a lingering resonance within the empty space.
One-Character Award
The winners of the One-Character Award are:
- erikatooyama725
- sadahisa_ginrei
- bimoji.tommy
- zag04659
- fudemoji.sugiko
These works have been selected for the award.
One-Character Award: erikatooyama725
[Work Title]
Learning
[Reason for Award]
Your natural and sincere style of writing clearly conveys your own thoughts. The character infused with such emotions also carries a sense of strength.
One-Character Award: sadahisa_ginrei
[Work Title]
Connection
[Reason for Award]
In contrast to the bold, confident brushstrokes executed without hesitation, the discreetly written alphabet signature in the open space creates a sense of composure.
One-Character Award: bimoji.tommy
[Work Title]
Connection
[Reason for Award]
The various thoughts about “connection” are expressed through the gradient of the ink color, and the warm tones of the background further enhance that feeling of warmth.
One-Character Award: zag04659
[Work Title]
Explore
[Reason for Award]
Through its substitutive composition, the character is well-balanced, showing disciplined line work. The brightness created by the contrast of wet and dry strokes is also striking.
One-Character Award: fudemoji.sugiko
[Work Title]
Nothingness
[Reason for Award]
The composition, which feels like a fragment cut out from a larger work, is intriguing and inspires various interpretations of the character “Nothingness.” The background colors are also highly effective.
A One-Character Contest Where the Number of Works Equals the Number of Participants — A Truly Fascinating Collection
We are pleased to introduce the 12 prize winners of the One-Character Contest 2023.
This was the first time we held the contest under this title, and we received submissions from more than 280 participants. We sincerely thank you all for taking part.
Expressing the events and emotions of a year in a single character through the brush.
Each of you chose a character that resonated with your heart and expressed it through calligraphy.
With as many backgrounds as there were participants, the works and characters conveyed thoughts and reflections that left a lasting impression.
Unlike a traditional exhibition, this contest allowed people from around the world to participate in the field of calligraphy through the web. We hope that initiatives like this will contribute to the continued development of calligraphy.
At Shoyu Online, we will continue to deliver calligraphy-themed content to help everyone enjoy the art of writing even more.
We look forward to your participation in our next interactive content project.