The Water We Want 2026 - Drawings

The Collective Desire depicts a group of people standing on the rocks surrounding a waterfall, trying to reach it and catch some water from it, surrounding by nature landscape. This work was created this way in coloured pencil and a white pen to clearly convey the idea of “The water we want”.

This artwork shows a possible future where water becomes extremely rare because of pollution and human carelessness. The last drop of water is treated like a museum object, symbolizing how people may only realize its true value when it is almost gone.

The person stands on dry land which appears broken and tired. His hands are holding one small plant and life exists throgh its presence. The ocean rises slowly and appears to come closer since it threatens the land. A drop falls from the sky which holds a reflection of nature.
The image shows a world close to loss because change can occur rapidly. The plant experiences growth and hope exhists through its strength. The person is non just standing there – he is choosing to protect life. This image tells us that even the smallest action can make a difference. In one drop, there is still life – but it may not last forever if we don’t protect it. The person creates choise and protects life because even small actions create change. They matter.

This is the map of a world united by water, the essential element. The blue bridge transcends borders and connects us all.

A glimpse into ”the water we want”, this composition captures the essence of the natural harmony, illustrating the primordial element in its purest form.

Water is like an ancient footprint, holding the memories of a land among the river stones. One day, watching my friend the Cormorant, I realized that despite the bottles, jars, and trash floating by, seemingly stuck in a weary river sustained only by birds and the vibrant colors of life, my friend lived peacefully, perching on that old rock to bask in the sun after his usual fishing trip. He even fished in the murky waters that revealed orange streaks flowing from a neighboring river (the Aguacatal River), a river whose life had faded... When the sun shines brightly on the Cali River, the Cormorant and his friends, perched on the stones, reveal to us the hope of life amidst the chaos. It is then that I see the Otters playing, the Waterfowl singing, and the river at rest. Today, I hold in my heart the memory of the crystalline waters of the land where I was born.

Where the mountains bow to the forest and the mist runs untamed, the Mashpi is born. Winding through Ecuador’s Chocó, its turquoise waters brim with abundance. This drawing portrays not only the biodiversity of these waters, but also shows their vitality. The Mashpi is one of the last clean waterways of north-western Ecuador, this is evident when we analyze the biodiversity and endemism that characterizes it. The five species that are illustrated are currently in danger due to water pollution, destruction of river banks, creation of dams and introduction of invasive species. Conservation efforts have made the Mashpi’s clean waters an oasis for this species. Countless species of birds, fishes, mammals and bio-indicators such as macro invertebrates are permanent residents and have a high dependence on the river. The efforts of the communities that depend on this river to subsist have not been in vain; today, the Mashpi stands as a global example of what fresh water conservation can be. The answer is there, buried in the rocky bottom, we just need to dive.

The picture I have painted represents that what every person does for the environment – or in this case, rivers-helps, even if it is just picking up a small plastic bottle from the ground. The different sides of the dice are illustrated differently because there is both good and bad in people. This means that people make choices that can either harm or improve freshwater ecosystems. There are also gold and black cubes going down the river, which also show people doing horrific and wonderful things to the freshwaters. Last and probably the most interesting part of the picture, the sun that represents hope in all humanity.
I got the inspiration for the painting when I saw a man throw away a can of a beer. That scene really hurt my heart, which is why I started painting my picture in the first place.

The project focuses on recycling, used cooking oil by turning it into eco-friendly candles, reducing water and soil pollution. The process includes collecting and filtering the oil, mixing it with stearin and pouring it into containers with a wick.

The drawing illustrates people’s negligence regarding water pollution, referring to the degradation of surrounding life. The image of the whale is a parallel to the scale of the disaster and the contamination of waters that were once clean.

Water is the blood of our planet and rivers are the arteries that carry life. A running water is a vibrant ecosystem, a symphony of sounds and colors. By protecting rivers we protect our own future and give nature back the right to smile again through the clarity of its waters.

A cold, stern cybernetic mechanical figure stands towering amid a steel-and-concrete industrial city, its metallic shell embodying the rigidity and detachment of technology. Yet hidden within the robot’s chest lies a gentle poetic realm of the Jiangnan water town.
Winding streams flow gracefully beneath stone bridges; white-walled houses with grey tiled roofs nestle along the water’s edge. Lush plants unfurl their soft green hues along the spring ripples, and the tranquil waters of Jiangnan become the unique tenderness and poetry dwelling within the mechanical core.
Centered on the motif of water, the painting weaves together the dual romance of frigid technology and warm nature. The hustle and impetuosity of the industrial metropolis are softly soothed and dissolved by the serene water hidden deep within the heart.
Carrying the ethereal charm of Eastern landscape aesthetics, the flowing water courses through the mechanical frame. It symbolizes that no matter how rapidly technology advances with the times, the gentle, agile spirit of water forever enfolds inner peace and poetic sentiment. It endows rigid technology with the delicate, lingering humanistic warmth of running water.

This work is presented in the form of paper cutting, a traditional Chinese art, and an intangible cultural heritage as well, which is an indispensable part of global culture. As water resources are increasingly being depleted due to excessive use by people, it is hoped that the importance of water can be demonstrated through the form of intangible culture.

This drawing illustrates a water mill, integrating harmoniously in a natural scenery. In the backgrounds, mountains and a pine tree can be seen, suggesting a quiet and traditional setting. This work highlights the importance of water not only to the balance of nature but also to human activities underlining it’s essential role in daily life.

A nocturne landscape is dominated by the moonlight which reflects in the clear water of a lake. The blooming tree branch and the waterlilies show the idea of the vivid world while the boat on the back brings the human presence, one which melts in the landscape without disturbing it.

The drawing is an imagination exercise. O hydro plant instead of the Iernut power-plant. A change in order to provide a cleaner energy source. Meanwhile the river keeps his roles: a place for fishing and swimming.

A drop of water in the shape of a tear is hiding a dream-like vision: two swans on a clear spring of water and a fisherman in the background. Outside the tear everything is red/black, burned but a string of water is flooding slowly the waste land and it is bringing it to life.

This artwork explores water as on organic and fluid element. I used watercolour to create flowy stains and transparencies that evoke water streams and depths, allowing the pigment to spread in a controlled yet spontaneous way. The layering of different tones suggests different temperatures and ecosystems. With a fine-tip pen, I introduced patters that resemble microorganisms, creating a contrast between the free gestures of the watercolour and the precision of the line. The goal was to combine science and sensitivity representing both the macroscopic dimension and the abstract side of the water.

In a world where it’s increasingly difficult to find places unaffected by pollution, this drawing seeks to show what a healthy ecosystem looks like: unpolluted water, abundant flora, fish and other aquatic animals, birds like the osprey (who hunt in places like rivers and lakes), the mallard (who is pretty common in lakes and rivers across Europe), the kingfisher, (equally spread across Europe and hunts in rivers) and the mandarin duck (who is also easily found in rivers and lakes of Asia).

We live in Topsia, in the largest slum of eastern India. Every day, we face the struggle for the resources that have been given by nature. Due to extreme misuse of the nature’s creation we face several problems. For example, in our locality, drinking water comes for only 12 minutes and the entire population of the community finds it extremely difficult to store the water. The problem becomes more severe during the summer. We must protect the environment to solve the issues and in this case, increase the 12 mins only water availability in our lives.

When there is nothing left, let that last drop of water be your ray of hope. This artwork shows a world affected by pollution and water scarcity. In the background, industries release smoke into the sky, representing human activities that harm the environment and contribute to climate change. The dry, cracked land reflects the severe shortage of freshwater and the impact it has on nature.
In the center, a young girl gently pours a small amount of water onto the barren ground, where a single flower begins to grow. This flower symbolizes hope and the possibility of life, even under difficult conditions. The act of the girl shows that even small efforts can make a difference in protecting water and nurturing life.
My drawing conveys that water is essential for all living beings, and it is our responsibility to use it wisely and protect it for the future. Without water, the world will become dry and lifeless, but with care, life can still bloom.

The drawing represents a little purepecha girl heiress of a culture that always known how to live in harmony with the water. She firmly holds a glass of pure water where a small plant germinates representing that we can still make a change. Her embroidered huipil carries the colours and patterns of Michoacan land. A tear falls down her face, not out of weakness but out for hope.

I want to represent that the water is not just something we use, but the foundation of life. In the drawing the journey of water shows us how everything in nature is connected, every plant, tree and landscape depends on it. If we protect water, we protect life”.

With the Baiheliang Underwater Museum as the scene, this watercolor depicts a moment where a diver leans over and gently touches the thousand-year-old stone inscriptions, conveying reverence for underwater cultural heritage.

Taking the map of Chongqing as the scroll and the Yangtze River as the vein, the painting links water heritage and integrates ancient and modern architectures with rivers. The title implies teenagers’ spiritual reunion with local freshwater resources and millennial water civilization. It calls on the younger generation to guard clear waters and inherit water heritage with youthful strength.

Everyone on the planet Earth are connected through water. Water is lihe our earth and pumps everyday. We can’t live without water so we have to preserve our rivers, oceans, lakes...