1. TOP
  2. COMPETITION
  3. 1_WALL
  4. 1st “1_WALL” Photography

1_WALL

1st “1_WALL” Photography

Today, modes of artistic expression are becoming increasingly diversified, and together with artists who wholeheartedly seek to express themselves in new ways, Guardian Garden aspires to be a venue for considering new expressive modes. This aspiration derives from our hope that artists will overcome any hurdles in their way by offering them a gallery wall where they can express themselves freely, through their works.

Judging Results

Final Round of Judging

Grand Prize

"Fossils"
Shimai Nakayama
Born in 1984 / Graduated from Musashino Art University, with a concentration in Oil Painting.
Grandpa lying in a hospital bed, connected to tubes.
Before his thought fossils disappear, I want to capture them in a pretty way as quickly as possible.

Final Round of Judging

The third and final round of judging is conducted open to public viewing. The six finalists give presentations of their works on display and their plans for their solo exhibition if they win the Grand Prize. The judges discuss the merits of each finalist’s portfolio, works shown, and presentation, and together decide the winner of the Grand Prize.

“1_WALL” Exhibition

A group exhibition is held spotlighting the six finalists to emerge from the second round of judging. Each finalist is allocated a gallery wall (approx. 3.85m wide and 2.5m high) to display their works. Besides the works themselves, the judges also take into consideration how the finalists use their overall display space and how they show their works.

Success in the Second Round of Judging

Finalists

  • "buried"

    Koji Omaru

    Born in 1980

    d from Waseda University, Department of Social Studies, Art and Architecture School.

  • "inner margin"

    Koji Sato

    Born in 1980

    Born in Tokyo. Currently studying under NAGAYAMA.

  • "Fossils"

    Shimai Nakayama

    Born in 1984

    Graduated from Musashino Art University, with a concentration in Oil Painting.

  • "Time Cadaver"

    Fumitaka Nakayama

    Born in 1977

    Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Architecture.

  • "on a cliff"

    Yosuke Yajima

    Born in 1981

  • "CONTACT"

    Yuki Watanabe

    Born in 1982

    Graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University Faculty of Arts Department of Photography.

Second Round of Judging

A portfolio review is held one-on-one between each entrant and a judge. Here, the entrants are given the opportunity to directly explain the motives behind their works or their production process. After all portfolio reviews are completed, the judges assemble to discuss their assessments and select the six finalists.

Success in First Round of Judging

Entrants Who Successfully Passed the First Round of Judging

Portfolio Judging

Judging is performed based on entrants’ work files and data. The judges, all prominent in their respective fields – design, illustration, photography, etc. – plus members of the secretariat, render their judgments from various perspectives. Thirty entrants are selected to continue on to the second round of judging.

Judges

  • Atsuki Kikuchi

    (Graphic designer)

    Born in Tokyo in 1974. He attended Musashino Art University, majoring in Sculpture. In 2000 he established Bluemark, and then in 2011 he founded his own design studio. His work areas include brand planning, logo design, signage planning, editorial design, etc., with a strong focus on art, fashion and architecture. He is also the principal of Book Peak, planners and publishers of art books.

  • Risaku Suzuki

    (Photographer)

    Born in Shingu, Wakayama, in 1963. In 2000 he received the 25th Kimura Ihei Award in Photography for “PILES OF TIME.” His recent publications include “Water Mirror” (Case Publishing / Fine-Art Photography Association), “SAKURA” (edition nord), “Étude” (SUPER LABO), “Between the Sea and the Mountain – Kumano ” (amanasalto), “Ishiki no nagare” [Stream of Consciousness] (edition nord) and “Atelier of Cézanne” (Nazraeli Press).

  • Mariko Takeuchi

    (Critic of photography)

  • Rika Noguchi

    (Photographer)

    Born in 1971 in Saitama City, currently living in Naha, Okinawa. In 1994 she graduated from Nihon University’s College of Art, Department of Photography. She began production of photographic works during he university years, and has been active both in Japan and abroad mainly with exhibitions of her works. She has also participated in numerous international exhibitions of contemporary art, most recently the 21st Biennale of Sydney, “SUPERPOSITION: Equilibrium & Engagement” (2018).

  • Satoshi Machiguchi

    (Art director, Publisher)

    President of the design studio match and company, inc. In 2005 he launched “M,” a photo book label, and began operating “bookshop M,” a website selling photo books. Since 2008 he has continuously exhibited his works at “Paris Photo,” one of the world’s foremost photography festivals, just one example of how he demonstrates his unique approach to his art. He probes the possibilities of Japanese photo books from a global perspective.