The “Time Tunnel” series places the spotlight on the earliest works of artists who have subsequently risen to the pinnacle of their field. The 23rd exhibition in the series will feature the works of illustrator Ayumi Ohashi. Ms. Ohashi first became known for her cover illustrations for Heibon Punch magazine, a post she was offered in response to previous works she had created for Men’s Club magazine (Shosuke Ishizu’s Van Jacket pages) while she was still a student at Tama Art University, where she majored in Oil Painting. Heibon Punch was an altogether new type of men’s magazine launched in 1964, and by being involved in its publication from its inception Ms. Ohashi’s artistic debut was sensational. Over the next seven years, she created 390 cover illustrations for the magazine, illustrations that played a leading role in the development of a new youth culture befitting a new age.
After Heibon Punch, Ayumi Ohashi went on to create illustrations for the fashion brand PINK HOUSE (1980-1990), branching out into advertising and creation of apparel and stationery items for the retail shop Stadium (1981-1985). She also became a prolific writer, penning well over 100 volumes of essays starting in 1970. Since 2002, she has produced her own quarterly magazine, Arne, handling all work from planning and editing to photography and publishing. In this way, through the years Ms. Ohashi has gradually expanded the scope of her creative activities from illustration to essays, to magazine publishing.
The upcoming exhibition will introduce the creative endeavors of Ayumi Ohashi　from her debut up to the present, at two venues. Her illustrations for Heibon Punch and PINK HOUSE, and other works leading up to publication of Arne, will be shown at Creation Gallery G8. Her student works, other illustration works, and works created for exhibitions will be on view at Guardian Garden.