An contest portraying fashion designs with illustrations has drawn more than 500 designers, artists and students to compete for awards.

The "Crisis Cup National Fashion Illustration Art Contest", the only professional contest of its kind in China, recently raised its curtain in Beijing.

"Though fashion illustration has been around for nearly 500 years, the form of art is quite new to most Chinese," said Wang Qing, president of the China Fashion Association: "Fashion illustration remains a relatively unsung art form. But original works and prints are an easy way to bring the runway to your walls."

Wu Jiageng, from Guangdong province, took the gold prize. His work, The National Mourning Day shows sympathy for the 5.12 Sichuan earthquake victims. The figures' postures and gestures convey the misery.

The silver award was won by Zhou Huanzeng with her works July 3 Together, and Mao Jingqi with Butterflies. Their works show romantic imaginary worlds inhabited by vivid cartoon characters. Li Hang's Leisure Time, bronze award, is simple in style. The contest received 800 works from competitors all over the country.

(China Daily December 30, 2008)