MUSE Silver

2025

The Rising Sea

Entrant Company

Luxun Academy of Fine Arts

Category

Branded Content - Environmental & Sustainability

Client's Name

Luxun Academy of Fine Arts

Country / Region

China

The Rising Sea is a public-oriented illustration project that visualizes the growing threat of climate change through a poetic, emotionally engaging narrative. Instead of relying on statistics or fear-based messaging, the project uses metaphor-rich drawings to connect with a wide audience—including children, young people, and communities less exposed to scientific discourse.

The four-part series follows the quiet but powerful story of trees slowly submerged by rising sea levels. Each image marks a stage in the journey: the vanishing of roots, the erosion of identity, the transformation of form under pressure, and the fragile hope that remains. The trees act as silent witnesses—symbols of resilience in the face of unstoppable change—inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the environment.

Through soft lines, minimal palettes, and symbolic transitions, the illustrations guide the audience into a contemplative experience. The intention is not to provoke guilt or panic, but to create emotional space for empathy and reflection. This calm, visual approach helps translate an overwhelming global issue into something deeply personal and accessible.

Created for public campaigns, exhibitions, and environmental education, The Rising Sea leverages illustration as a universal language—one that crosses generational, linguistic, and cultural barriers. It demonstrates how visual storytelling can foster environmental awareness without confrontation, and encourage small shifts in perception that may lead to meaningful change.

By making the invisible visible, and the complex understandable, this project highlights the power of art in public communication—moving hearts before minds, and bringing climate consciousness closer to everyday life.

Credits

Luxun Academy of Fine Arts
Yueyin Zhang
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