'Balhae' by Ziwan Li: Innovation in Character Design

Balhae

Character Design for Ziwan Li

The background of the project follows apprentice Junghyae and her mentor, Master Yoo, summoned to Gyeru village to banish spirits from the seas. Their journey unveils Balhae's culture and mystical practices. This character design project pays homage to Balhae's civilization, blending history and fantasy. The artist's fascination with history, culture, and fashion not only imbues this design project with aesthetic appeal and functional storytelling but also adds a sense of historical weight and a touch of poetry to it.

Ziwan Li 2024 Professional Iron Press Kit № 158219

Download Press Kit № 158219

Download Press Kit № 158219 Character Design for Ziwan Li by Ziwan Li to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

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Balhae by Ziwan Li

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

For precise, vibrant prints up to 6 inches, use this 1800-pixel image at 300 DPI. For larger visuals up to 12 inches, 150 DPI ensures the image remains clear and impactful. High-res, no watermark images await those with press accreditation. For instant access, download a low-res version. To identify photo contributors, visit the Image Credits Section.

Character Design by Ziwan Li

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

For precise, vibrant prints up to 6 inches, use this 1800-pixel image at 300 DPI. For larger visuals up to 12 inches, 150 DPI ensures the image remains clear and impactful. Download watermark-free, high-res images with your press credentials, or opt for an immediate low-res download. For attribution details, see the Image Credits Section.

Ziwan Li Balhae

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Harness the clarity of this 1800-pixel image for your prints—perfectly sharp at 6 inches with 300 DPI and equally clear at 12 inches when adjusted to 150 DPI. Press accreditation offers watermark-free high-res downloads. For immediate needs, low-res images are ready now. Image Credits Section holds all necessary photo accreditation details.

Ziwan Li Character Design

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

This 1800-pixel image adapts to your print needs: sharp and detailed at 6 inches with 300 DPI, it transitions smoothly to 12 inches at 150 DPI, preserving visual quality. Press accreditation unlocks high-res images without watermarks. Need something now? Download a low-res image instantly. Acknowledgements for photographs are in the Image Credits Section.

Balhae Character Design Press Releases

Discover our press releases for Balhae available in the following languages: English.

Balhae Character Design Translations

Offering a diversity of language options for Balhae translations: Character Design EN, Runa Ruwana QU, Design de Personaje RO, Дизайн персонажей RU, Tusiaga Foliga Tagata SM, पात्रसृजनम् SA, Dizajn likova SR, Dhizaini Yevamiriri SN, ڪردار ڊزائين SD, චරිත නිර්මාණය SI, Dizajn postáv SK, Oblikovanje likov SL, Naqshadaynta Dabeecadda SO, Karakterontwerp AF, Dizajn Personazhesh SQ, ገፀ-ባህሪ ንድፍ AM, تصميم الشخصيات AR, Կերպարների Դիզայն HY, চৰিত্ৰ ডিজাইন AS, Personaj Dizaynı AZ, Pertsonaien Diseinua EU, Дизайн персанажаў BE, চরিত্র নকশা BN, Dizajn likova BS, Дизайн на персонажи BG, ဇာတ်ကောင်ဒီဇိုင်း MY, Disseny de Personatges CA, Disenyo sa Karakter CEB, Kapangidwe ka Anthu NY, 角色設計 ZY, 角色设计 ZH, Cuncepimentu di Caratteri CO, Dizajn likova HR, Design postav CS, Karakterdesign DA, Karakterontwerp NL, Karaktera Dizajno EO, Tegelaskujundus ET, Hahmosuunnittelu FI, Conception de Personnages FR, Dealbhadh Caractair GD, Deseño de Personaxes GL, პერსონაჟის დიზაინი KA, Charakterdesign DE, Σχεδιασμός Χαρακτήρων EL, Personaje Ñemoheñói GN, કેરેક્ટર ડિઝાઇન GU, Konsepsyon Karaktè HT, Ƙirar Halaye HA, Hoʻolālā Mea Kanaka HAW, עיצוב דמויות HE, कैरेक्टर डिज़ाइन HI, Kev Tsim Tus Cwj Pwm HMN, Karaktertervezés HU, Persónuhönnun IS, Nhazi Odide IG, Desain Karakter ID, Dearadh Carachtar GA, Design di Personaggi IT, キャラクターデザイン JA, Desain Karakter JV, ಪಾತ್ರ ವಿನ್ಯಾಸ KN, Кейіпкер дизайны KK, ការរចនាតួអក្សរ KM, Igishushanyo cy'Abantu RW, 캐릭터 디자인 KO, دیزاینی کارەکتەر KU, Каарман Дизайны KY, ການອອກແບບຕົວລະຄອນ LO, Conformatio Personarum LA, Personāžu dizains LV, Personažų dizainas LT, Charakterdesign LB, Дизајн на ликови MK, Famolavolana Toetra MG, Reka Bentuk Watak MS, കഥാപാത്ര രൂപകൽപ്പന ML, Disinn tal-Karattri MT, Hoahoa Kiriata MI, पात्र रचना MR, Дүрийн Дизайн MN, चरित्र डिजाइन NE, Karakterdesign NO, Karakterdesign NB, Concepcion de Personatges OC, ଚରିତ୍ର ଡିଜାଇନ୍ OR, د کرکټر ډیزاین PS, طراحی کاراکتر FA, Projektowanie postaci PL, Design de Personagens PT, ਕਿਰਦਾਰ ਡਿਜ਼ਾਈਨ PA, Tlhamo ya Dibapadi ST, Diseño de Personajes ES, Desain Karakter SU, Muundo wa Wahusika SW, Karaktärsdesign SV, Disenyo ng Karakter TL, Тарроҳии персонаж TG, கதாபாத்திர வடிவமைப்பு TA, Персонаж Дизайны TT, పాత్ర రూపకల్పన TE, การออกแบบตัวละคร TH, ዲዛይን ገጸ-ባህርያት TI, མི་སྣང་གི་བཀོད་སྒྲིག BO, Karakter Tasarımı TR, Gahryman Dizaýny TK, Дизайн персонажів UK, کردار کی تصمیم UR, رول لايىھىلەش UG, Personaj dizayni UZ, Thiết Kế Nhân Vật VI, Dyluniad Cymeriad CY, Karakterûntwerp FY, Uyilo Lwabalinganiswa XH, כאַראַקטער דיזיין YI, Apẹrẹ Aworan-eniyan YO, Idizayini Yabalingiswa ZU, to suit your project's needs.

Balhae Character Design Media Articles

Ready-to-feature articles on Balhae are available in these languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, Portuguese, Indonesian, Arabic (Standard), Japanese, Turkish, Russian, Korean and Hindi, for your convenience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Project Overview

Balhae Character Design has been a Iron winner in the Digital Art award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Iron Recognition

Ziwan Li was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Balhae Character Design.

Ziwan Li Press Releases

Journalists and media members can enrich their content with our press releases on Ziwan Li, available for free use. Unlock 1 press releases now, directly accessible to journalists.

Balhae: A Visual Homage to a Lost Civilization

Ziwan Li's Character Design Project "Balhae" Resurrects a Long-Forgotten Culture Through Art

Ziwan Li Newsroom

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