Sketch for Survival 2021: Junior Shortlist
Congratulations to all the selected artists.
China Mei Lin-Alvarado from Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Rooting for the Red Pandas
China Mei Lin or Chinky is a creative, bubbly, and cheerful seven-year-old who loves all kinds of animals. She dreams of becoming a vet for wildlife when she grows up. She is also a very talented singer and musician.
"I love red pandas! We should save them because they are beautiful, unique, and endangered. They are important just like all other animals. Saving them means that we are also protecting the forests of South Asia. When we protect forests, we also save many other animals who live in them. More forests also means more trees, which is good for the whole planet! I pray that there will be more red pandas in the wild."
The judges said: "Fun and quirky with lots of imagination."Annabel Shu Han-Gao-An from Hony Kong, China
Happy Whallie
Annabel is a 8 year old girl with a lot of passion for arts and ocean animals. She draws with passion and imagination to express her understanding of the world with vibrant colors and patterns.
"We had a 4 Hammers exhibition at school to raise the awareness of shark finning. A lot of sharks including whale sharks are becoming extinct making me sad. I've seen whale sharks in the aquarium when I was 5 years old, I want the whale sharks to swim happily in the ocean forever! No more shark finning and No more hunting of the sharks! "
The judges said: "Lovely and free and full of joy."Paisley Poyle from Nottingham, UK
Cold Play
"I'm aged 13 and home educated. I've been painting and drawing all my life. I'm autistic with selective-mutism, so I find all forms of communication difficult and challenging. I struggle to speak to anyone outside of close family, so painting creativity is my way of self expression and my sanctuary. I chose polar bears because my family has always identified with them, felt an affinity with them and have been interested in their welfare. I was looking for a photograph to reference for my painting and found one that my uncle had taken. He was delighted I chose it, because his wife had first told me about the competition (they are huge Gary Hodges fans!) so it all came together perfectly."
The judges said: "Really well-painted."Diane Park from Bellevue, Washington, USA
Turtle's Adventure
"I am a 14 year old, digital/traditional artist, currently in High School. I am entering art competitions for my art portfolio. I chose the Hawkbill Turtle because at school I did a project about them. We talked about endangered animals and their habitats, and because I learned so much about them I thought it was logical to make an art piece about it. My inspiration is a scavenging turtle in a coral reef habitat, though the environment seems vibrant, it show the contrast between the main focus and the background."
The judges said: "So imaginative and clever"Layana Laifa from London, UK
On the Brink of Extinction
"I'm14 years old, and I've liked art from a young age. I love drawing in black and white and I am considering doing something with art in the future. I had seen the story of the last male white rhino, Sudan, dying and the fact that there are only two remaining Northern white rhinos left, who are mother and daughter, inspired me to do this piece of artwork. People don't take notice or care about how some animals are on the brink of extinction and this is the message I wanted to show in my entry - discarded old news that people just walk over."
The judges said: "A really great idea."Dayeon Han from Seoul, South Korea
Orangutan
"I am a high school student and artist from South Korea. Art has always been a significant part of my life growing up, and I aspire to pursue this interest. I am also eager to exercise my artistic skills for a valuable purpose anytime, as in this competition. In my artwork, I portrayed an orangutan: one of the many critically endangered species around the world. Although I was appalled by all of the various vulnerable species, the orangutan, an animal that I had often seen caged in zoos, struck my heart the most. The human-like creature seemed to call for help through its large, glistening eyes, inspiring me to reach out a hand by participating in the competition."
The judges said: "Well executed, emotional and direct."
