Fall 2025 - SHORTLISTED

When New York Proved Its Silence

Although New York City is known for its bustling and noisy environment, ironically, my first impression was not always loud, but silent. This sounds even weirder when I think about it, because my first trip was during the 2014 Super Bowl, and I still remember being overwhelmed by the crowd in Times Square. Jet lag was not helping at all. Yet, despite my exhaustion, my parents insisted on touring the city. One day, we went to Central Park. Since it had snowed the day before, everything was white, blue, and silent. Unlike Times Square, no one was around. The snow absorbed all the city sounds, and everything was so quiet and peaceful. I felt like I was alone in the park. I could hear the crisp crumble of snow under my feet, the gentle friction of my baggy winter clothes, and even my own thumping heartbeat. It was something new. Silence and New York do not seem to match even today, but I know that it exists. That moment revealed a deeper truth: nothing can be defined by one definition. This drawing still carries the silence of that day in Central Park. This snowy landscape was originally created as a background for animation. However, I drew it according to my ironic experience in New York, and when I see this drawing, I still remember that time when I felt so alone and peaceful in this rumbling city. The time that New York proved its silence. The drawing puts you right in the scene—no person is shown. You see through your own eyes. On the left, the Chrysler Building stands quietly against a deep blue sky. A single lamppost throws a long shadow over the fresh snow. An empty bench sits off to the side, lightly covered in white. The simple, clean style—soft colors and gentle textures—makes the quiet feel real, like you could step in and hear nothing at all.