The 15th World Children's Haiku Contest 'Living Things' (in Bulgaria) Comments
第15回 世界こどもハイクコンテスト「いきもの」 ブルガリア大会 講評

1. Raya Venkova Moyankova

The little artist’s picture is made in the typical Japanese style of minimalism in duo-color tone. A mystique atmosphere is created – the tree looks like holding the moon in its bare branches and the viewer can even hear that “old song” repeated over and over again. It is a real pleasure to come across with such a profound thought in such a simple manner.

小さな芸術家の絵は二色による伝統的な日本のミニマリズムの手法で描いています。神秘的な雰囲気が作り出され、木はその裸の枝に月を抱きかかえているように見えます。何度も何度も繰り返される「懐かしい歌」が見る人に聴こえて来るようです。このようなシンプルな方法で、こんなにも深い思いに出会えるとは本当に喜ばしいことです。

2. Gabriela Spasova Zasheva

The artist felt the warmth of spring as a beautiful fish that jumps towards the sun and we can say that the tree branches in blossoms resemble loving hands that give blessing to it. Probably one can say that this haiku is a full sentence in tree lines but read it again in a loud voice and I am sure you’ll hold your breath after the first line – a natural pause.

作者は春の温かさを太陽に向かってジャンプする一匹の美しい魚に感じています。花をつけた木の枝は、そのことを祝福している愛情のこもった両腕のようにも見えます。この句は文章を3行にしたと言う人がいるかも知れません。しかし大きな声で読み直してみると、1行目の終わりで息を止めていること、自然な切れがあること、に気づかれると思います。

3. Elena Svetlanova Deyanova

An exquisite haiga – the two little frogs embracing a dandelion (each of them has a different expression) look marvelous; hanging down in the empty space they create a feeling of weightlessness and unity of Heaven and Earth. The bright colours and the precise drawing deepen the sensation of lightness and freshness. This feeling is completed by a lovely haiku which by means of a few words creates a picture of almost Far Eastern conception of the world.

非常に素晴らしい俳画です。タンポポを抱きしめる2匹の小さな蛙（2匹ともそれぞれ異なる表情で描かれています）は見事です。虚空にぶら下がっている様子は無重量と天と地の調和を感じさせます。明るい色と緻密な描き方が軽さと新鮮さの印象を深めています。この感情は、少ない言葉で極東の世界観を描き出しているような素敵な俳句によって完成します。

4. Desislava Tsvetanova Dimitrova

А wonderful art work – a watercolor masterpiece which by means of its bright colours (shades of blue and yellow) makes us feel fascinated by the beauty of nature. The way in which the text of the haiku is situated in the picture resembles the trills of the two birds. The contrast between cold and warm colours provokes a festive mood. Everything around is in blossoms and shows the spring in its apogee. The good combination between the drawing and the text intensifies the pleasant feeling. As we hear the sweet-voiced song of the birds and watch the gay colours of their feathers, we feel the magic of their beauty which we hope to make us feel again alive and save the world.

素晴らしい絵です。水彩画の名画で、その明るい色彩（青と黄色の色味）によって私達は自然の美しさに魅了されてしまいます。２羽の鳥のトリルそのもののように、俳句が絵の中に配置されています。寒色と暖色の対比はお祭り気分をかきたてます。周りの全ては花盛りで、春はその絶頂にあることを示しています。絵と句の見事な取り合わせが心地よさを増幅しています。鳥たちの甘い歌声を聞き、楽し気な羽の色を見ていると、私達は美しさの魔法にかかり、再び生きていることを感じ、世界は救われると思うのです。

JAL Prize winner(20)　入賞作品 （20句）

1. Boris Atanasov

Well, this is a master class performance of mixed media painting where the accent falls on the fox (cut out of fabric) and the contrast with the white snow and the caught mouse. Where is the mouse – is it already swallowed by the fox or it is white and you cannot see it under the beast’s paw? The picture and the illustrative haiku provoke questions. That is enough to say it works. And last but not least – the fox has turned its back to the black tree and its bare branches.

2. Naya Kitanova

This art work reveals winter scenery typical for contemporary urban environment. Although migratory birds usually garner all the attention, many other beautiful birds can be found in the cities all winter long. Pigeons are regular visitors to our yards, balconies and to our neighborhood. Inspired by their presence the little artist captures a lovely sketch of their everyday life during the cold weather. It is an exciting and unforgettable thing to stand near these birds and watch them warm each other. A nice contrast is achieved between the red colour of the top of the building and the pale yellow of the coоl winter sun.

3. Teodor Viktorov Manev

An excellent performance of the painting on glassine corresponds perfectly with the haiku represented by the means of the cinematographic approach: sound (the spring’s voice)-image (a swallow)-background (a blooming branch). A haiku that mentions no feeling but brings so many emotions out in the reader: joy, desire to sing and dance… to feel like a child, like this 11-year-old boy who captured such a special moment of the spring mood.

4. Маxime Dimov Atanasov

A very profound and mature haiku revealing the natural human striving - the people we love to be able to share our emotions and joy. The endless field with tulips (completely stylisized in a childish way like embroidery of red drops), the view of the lonely tree, the lonesome figure in the house, and the flying birds above deepen the longing for the closest people with whom the child would like to share the beauty of nature. This lovely picture drawn in a naive style combined with the beautiful multi-layers haiku creates a pleasant feeling of serenity and tranquility.

5. Nikola Radoslav Nikolaev

The haiku poem and the picture of this 10-year-old boy bring together a very bright feeling and surprise, while staying true to reality. One can see the dazzling sun rays and the green joy of the warm season in the drawing of the chameleon. Both haiku and picture are very convincing. There is a clear fragment and a clear phrase without any spare words. The young author is so sincere, that one gets a colourful and vivid image in his mind. This art work would be a pride even for an older haijin!

6. Еva Nenova

The art work of Еva Nenova attracts our attention with its fine ornamental stylization of a willow and grass. In its composition the asymmetry and aesthetics prevail. This drawing catches the beauty of the moment, spiritualizing the scenery. It implies that everything in nature is alive, that plants are like living creatures. They communicate in their own language. And the entire world exists in a unity.

7. Ivana Plamen Slavova

“Beautiful” in a haiku? No kidding? But now, take a look at this butterfly. Isn’t it really just beautiful? Would you suggest another adjective that would be more appropriate for it? Moreover, the artist made it to recreate the sorrow of its flying away. We could be only grateful for the captured mono-no-aware moment.

8. Miriam Tihomirova Tihomirova

“Blind… chases… deaf…” – enough to exclaim, “How creepy!” In addition, the graphic used for this drawing fortifies the feeling. However, that is only at first reading. If you forget about it for a while, you will find out that entire longing for something more than daily routine and remember your careless days of daydreaming when the fantasy and the reality were not separated by each other.

9. Viktoriya Hristova Ileva

Reading this playful poem, one can easily see the tiny ant, trying to move its load and feel grateful together with the author for the haiku moment, impressed by such important, though tiny world deed, as the life of an insect. The ant is not represented in the picture, which directs our attention to the detail. We start intuitively to search for the ant under the autumn tree, and eventually realize what a miracle nature is in all its shapes and forms. An interesting point of view – the autumn leaf presented as a hat, the ant hidden under one of the leaves and the feeling of constant change in seasons – all of them bring joy to the senses. А classical haiku with a very good distinction between phrase and fragment.

10. Ventsislav Nikolaev Kolev

This art work is a nice combination between the beautiful watercolour drawing of a flying towards the sun bird and the depth of the written text. The drawing has a good composition and reveals the child’s spontaneity and eloquence of expression. The haiku poem introduces additional philosophical view by means of the deep vision about the freedom of birds even when they are in cage. An excellent balance between drawing and text has been achieved.

11. Dariya Lyubenova Bosilkova

A very joyful picture – the animals are really smiling and provoke a good mood. What a wonderful idea is to create a view to the underground tunnels in order to become a witness how the meerkats came out from their dark holes to smile at the light and sun. A lovely haiku... No doubt that spring is coming!

12. Vladina Tiholova

This beautiful drawing touches your heart directly. It shows the deep connection between human being's emotional world and Nature. Both Nature and human beings are living creatures inhabiting one world. The haiku is simple but loaded with much spiritual energy. The drawing itself shows the powerful imagination and the calm awareness of the author of the different seasons. Summer is the season of freedom, winter – the season of reflection, and this is the universal point of view that this haiga implies in an exquisite and delicate manner. Sea is the place where all living creatures on our planet emerged from. It is also a giant living organism full of colorful fish, octopus, jelly-fish etc. Watching the girl who sits in yoga pose on the beach we can easily achieve a meditative state of mind and plunge into the depths of the sea together with the author of the haiga.

13. Elyara Kenanova Kyamilova

This art work attracts our attention with a very powerful and impressive haiku which takes us in a world of empathy for all living creatures in their trouble and pain while struggling against the destructive forces in nature. Two giant birds occupy the centre of the drawing as a unifying image of all birds who have hardly survived the storm. They are wet, ruffled, trembling and frightened… The sky is gloomy, even the tree has a sad expression because its leaves were wind-blown in no time.

14. Petya Vasileva Vasileva

А nice haiku that combines in a perfect way the coming liveliness in nature and among people. The running children not seen in the picture correspond to the squeaking birds making noise in the nest. It is interesting that the haiku and the picture mutually complete themselves without saying one and the same thing. Both of them create a joyful picture of the reviving in spring life.

15. Viktoriya Krasimirova Dimitrova

This beautiful haiku and drawing of Viktoria Dimitrova can deeply move everyone who has ever been a child. The emotion is expressed by the red colour of the balloon. The emphasis is put on the care-free years and innocence of childhood, which is maybe near its’ end. The drawing is colourful and intriguing and brings a feeling of calmness. The haiku has a strong and convincing structure of fragment and phrase.

16. Nikola Еmilov Aleksov

The picture brings up a feeling of coziness and calmness. The snow is not a threat but a warm blanket where a family of bares huddle together to warm up and get ready for hibernation. The future is bright and the little artist affirms it with the haiku that accompanies the drawing. Nobody can remain indifferent to this emanation of love and safety.

17. Zoe Valkova Hotson

In Zoe’s work, drawing and haiku amplify each other in a pleasant and surprising way. Looking at the picture, one initially sees a puzzling shape, and when reading the haiku one feels the sense of humor and childishly innocent love for all pets. Love continues to manifest itself in the drawing – in the colorful spots of the dog and the ball, which seem to be bound together, as the author is bound to its pet. One can “see” in the ball a fantasy planet, full of happiness. There is a feeling of action, emotion and surprise in the whole art work.

18. Selest Sezgin Selimova

The exaggerated shapes of the images in the drawing have an interesting impact on the viewer: the frog dominating the whole pond turns into a hyperbole – it unites all the frogs which croak in the clear water. The image of the frog is spiritualized in a childish way – it’s close to the human images and it’s very nice. The child’s intuition grades the images according to their importance by means of the ratio „big-small”. Thus the squirrel in her hollow is smaller than the sitting in the blue circle main character. A classical haiku with a “kigo”. The frogs croak loudly, they are inspired by the spring and the water is clear due to the melting ice and snow.

19. Zornitza Dhurdheva Zhivkova

А typical for the age brightly coloured and vivid picture drawn by one of the youngest participants in the contest - Zornitza Zhivkova (5-year-old). The images in the drawing make us smile and forget our problems. The charming girl with pigtails reminds us about one of our favourite children’s characters - Pippi Longstocking. The dog in front of its kennel, the two yellow-orange cats and the fish in the stream provoke a festive and joyful mood corresponding to the carefree years of childhood. Even with some shortcomings the haiku poem creates a playful and cheerful mood.

20. Edjem Shukri Veli

Although the haiku of Edjem Veli has a hint of sadness and lamentation, the image we see is the image of the inner beauty of every living creature, whose life is constantly changing, as all the universe moves in constantly changing cycles. The author makes us witness this beautiful melancholy moment that she has contemplated and drawn in a picture. The sun settles and the flower is fading but the tree dots at the end of the poem leave a sense of new beginning coming soon.

Comments by
Alexandra Ivoylova, Vesislava Savova, Lyudmila Hristova, Zornitza Harizanova
and Venelina Petkova