OVERVIEW

Ways of Seeing

Open Canvas accepts submissions in two distinct entry categories:

Realism and Expressionism.
Each artist is required to choose one approach when submitting their work.

To ensure clarity of evaluation and consistency of artistic presentation, submissions are reviewed within their selected category.

This structure is designed to highlight different ways of observing and interpreting the world through visual art.

ENTRY I

写実主義

REALISM

しゃじつしゅぎ

OBSERVATION, ACCURACY & DETAIL

Realism emerged as a silent anchor in art history, focusing on an objective portrayal of subject matter without embellishment or emotional distortion. By analyzing the world through Gustave Courbet's eye for truth and Jean-François Millet's dedication to the working class, artists achieve a state of 安定—stability rooted in the observed reality of human existence and the surrounding world.

ENTRY II

表現主義

EXPRESSIONISM

ひょうげんしゅぎ

EMOTION, SUBJECTIVITY & INTENSIFIED COLOR

Expressionism prioritizes the subjective experience over objective reality. Through distorted forms and vivid, non-naturalistic palettes, artists like Edvard Munch captured raw psychological depth, while Wassily Kandinsky explored the spiritual resonance of color. It is an art of the interior—transforming inner turmoil and ecstasy into powerful visual statements.