Cross - Discipline Categories
Traditional Art
The Traditional Art category celebrates artistic expression through classical and hand-crafted media. This category encourages students to explore visual storytelling and creative ideas using traditional techniques such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media created primarily by hand.
Participants may work with materials such as pencil, charcoal, ink, watercolor, acrylic, oil paint, or other physical media. The focus of this category is on artistic skill, composition, and the ability to communicate ideas visually through traditional methods.
Evaluation will consider concept and originality, technical execution and craftsmanship, and overall composition and visual impact. Judges will look at how effectively the artist uses materials, form, color, and composition to convey their creative vision.
Sub-category Breakdown
Experimental PHotography
New
In recognition of the evolving language of contemporary image-making, XCAC will expand its Photography Category to include an Experimental Photography component. This addition encourages students to move beyond traditional photographic documentation and explore photography as a conceptual and multi-media practice. Participants are invited to translate personal reflection and thematic inquiry into hybrid forms that may incorporate material transformation, mixed media integration, or cross-disciplinary reinterpretation.
Evaluation will prioritize conceptual strength and thematic clarity (40%), ensuring that works articulate a coherent idea or emotional inquiry. Media transformation and material technique (30%) will assess the depth of experimentation and integration across forms. Final presentation and compositional resolution (30%) will evaluate visual impact, craftsmanship, and communicative effectiveness.
By broadening the scope of photography to include experimental approaches, XCAC supports students in understanding image-making as an evolving creative language rather than a fixed technical skill. This category fosters self-reflection, conceptual thinking, and multidimensional exploration, encouraging participants to approach visual storytelling as an open and adaptive artistic process.
Drawing
As the category title suggests, this category involves drawing on paper using materials such as pencil, charcoal, colored pencils, fine liners, or ink pens.
Judging will be based on the participant’s creativity, technique, composition, and their ability to convey emotion or ideas through line work, light and shadow, and form.
Painting
As the category title suggests, this category involves painting on paper or canvas using materials such as acrylics, oil paints, watercolors, or gouache.
Judging will be based on the participant’s creativity, technique, composition, and their ability to convey emotion or ideas through line work, light and shadow, and form.
Photography
Photography is an art and technique that captures images using light and a camera. It can document real-world moments or express creativity and emotion through composition, lighting, and color. Entries may include documentary photography, landscape photography, portrait photography, fine art photography, or macro photography.
We encourage students to explore the combination of photography and post-processing to create their own unique works. Judging will be based on creativity, composition, use of light and form, as well as the skillful application of post-editing techniques.
Digital Art
Digital Art is an artistic form that uses digital tools and technologies as its primary medium, breaking the boundaries of traditional art categories to create works with enhanced versatility and expressive potential.
Mixed Media
Mixed Media Art is an artistic form that combines various mediums and materials, breaking the boundaries of traditional art categories to create works with greater depth and expressive power. Students are encouraged to use elements such as painting, sculpture, photography, collage, fabric, wood, metal, and more to craft unique visual and tactile experiences.
Judging will be based on the participant’s creativity, technique, composition, and their ability to convey emotion or ideas through line, light and shadow, and form.
Our Judges
.jpg)
Kahori Kamiya
Kahori Kamiya is a highly acclaimed interdisciplinary artist and designer, renowned for her unique creative vision and deep understanding of cultural narratives. Her work seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary elements, spanning visual art, installations, video, and design. She demonstrates exceptional command over materials, space, and storytelling.
​
Kahori’s artwork has been showcased at internationally recognized museums, galleries, and art festivals, earning widespread attention. She explores themes such as identity, memory, and cultural fusion, offering audiences richly layered experiences. In addition to her artistic practice, she is actively involved in art education and cultural exchange initiatives, fostering dialogue between art and society
Michael Shi
Michael Shi is a professional photographer based in New York, known for his distinctive artistic vision and innovative use of light and color, particularly in dance photography. His work explores the expressive potential of movement and visual storytelling, capturing the beauty and complexity of human narratives.
​
His photography has received international recognition, including awards from PX3 (Prix de la Photographie Paris), IPA (International Photography Awards), FAPA (Fine Art Photography Awards), and MIFA (Moscow International Foto Awards). His work has been exhibited globally, with solo exhibitions in New York and Shanghai and group exhibitions across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Submission Guidelines
1. Individual or Group Work
Submissions may be individual or group projects (maximum of 4 participants).
2. Image Submission Requirements
Artwork Images: Submit in image format (.jpg or .jpeg), with each file no larger than 5MB.
Project Process: If there are multiple process images, they must be combined into a single PDF file (e.g., screenshots or photos documenting the process).
Note: Each submission must include detailed participant information on every piece, including:
-
Name of participant
-
Materials used
-
Dimensions
-
Contact details
File names must follow the format: "FirstName_LastName_ArtworkTitle" and must be submitted in both Pinyin and English. Please refer to the official website for full submission details.
3. Additional Requirements for 3D/Physical Works
It is recommended (but not mandatory) to submit a 360-degree video showing the artwork from multiple angles. The video should be no longer than 2 minutes.
4. Video Submission Instructions
Submit videos via a publicly accessible link that can be opened without restrictions. Accepted platforms include:
-
Google Drive (set permission to “Anyone with the link can view”)
-
Behance
-
Personal Website
-
YouTube (shareable link)
-
Vimeo (shareable link)
5. Creative Concept and Student Information
-
A brief concept statement (no more than 100 words, in English) must be included with each submission.
-
Please double-check that all personal information is accurate and complete.