15th “1_WALL” Graphics
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.
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.
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.
Itsuka Umemaru
Born in 1987
Sawako Kageyama
Born in 1993
Currently studying Graphic Design at Tama Art University.
Ryosuke Kataoka
Born in 1993
Currently concentrating in Graphic Design at Tokyo Zokei University.
Kurokawa
Born in 1993
Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a degree in Graphic Design.
Miyuki Shigeno
Born in 1985
Graduated from Chubi Central Art School.
Minami Tsunogawa
Born in 1988
Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a degree in Graphic Design.
Kimiko Yamada
Selected by Rika Eguchi
Saori Sugiyama
Selected by Daijiro Ohara
Momoko Negishi
Selected by Yutanpo Shirane
Yuriezaka
Selected by Dainippon Type Organization
Kei Nojima
Selected by Kiyonori Muroga
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.
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.
The Grand Prize winner receives the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at Guardian Garden roughly one year after the “1_WALL” Exhibition. The gallery is provided free of charge. Publicity assistance, including support in preparing a show leaflet, is also provided. A pamphlet will be produced and sold for the solo exhibition at Guardian Garden.
This series of exhibitions features former participants in “1_WALL” competitions who passed the first round of judging. All entrants meeting those qualifications are eligible. To date, exhibitions have focused attention on up-and-coming art directors, graphic designers, illustrators and photographers.
Finalists in “1_WALL” competitions (entrants who have passed the first and second rounds of judging) can have their name registered on the ARTIST page accessible on the Guardian Garden website.
(Art director and Artist)
Art director and artist engaging in a broad array of artistic activities: everything from the two to three dimensional, advertising, and clothing. Her works include design of Softbank’s “PANTONE∞“ and baby toys for Benesse Kodomo Challenge, and costume design for figure skater Daisuke Takahashi (2011). Among the many awards she has garnered to date are a JAGDA New Designer Award, “Hitotsubo Exhibition” Grand Prize, Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art (Excellent Award), Good Design Award, and a D&AD Yellow Pencil Award (UK).
(Graphic designer)
Graphic designer born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978. In 2003, upon graduating from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Basic Design, he established omomma. In addition to undertaking design work and video production, through exhibitions, workshops, performance, etc. he undertakes numerous projects probing new perceptions in language and the written word. In 2014 he won a JAGDA New Designer Award and Tokyo TDC Award. http://omomma.in/ (Japanese only)
(Illustrator)
Born in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture, in 1968. He creates a wide array of illustrations for magazines, advertising and other print media, web contents, etc. Among his most recent works are cover illustrations for BRUTUS, visuals for GU sales campaigns, and illustrations for radiko’s “Oto-genic” campaign. In addition to his commercial work, he has created a collection of his noncommissioned works, mounted solo exhibitions, and participated in many group exhibitions.
An experimental typography group formed in 1993 by Hidechika – the one with a beard but no surname – and Tetsuya Tsukada – the one with a surname but no beard. For 25 years now, they have been playing with writing systems, probing new concepts through their experiments in disarticulating, combining and reconfiguring the written word.
(Editor)
Kiyonori Muroga was born in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, in 1975. Since 1999 he has performed editorial work mainly in planning related to graphic design, typography and visual culture. He also is engaged, internationally, in critique, lecturing and exhibition planning concerning those genres. Mr. Muroga formerly served as editor-in-chief of “IDEA” magazine. In recent years, he has been in charge of books such as The Next Form of Lettering Designs in Japan and Noritake’s WORKS. He is editor-in-chief of JAGDA’s “The Graphic Design Review” website.