25th “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 five 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 five 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.
Kota Ikeda
Born in 1995
Graduated from Tohoku University of Art & Design with a degree in Fine Arts.
Tatsuru Hatayama
Born in 2001
Currently studying Oil Painting in the Faculty of Art and Design of Tama Art University.
Chu Liangwen
Born in 1996
Completed the Masters Course in Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Zhao Wenxin
Born in 1996
Currently studying Design in the Graduate School of Art and Design of Tama Art University.
Kanako Hiramatsu
Born in 1997
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts majoring in Painting. Currently serving as an assistant researcher in the university’s Oil Painting Course.
Yusuke Muroi
Selected by Yuri Uenishi
Shotaro Takeuchi
Selected by Ryoji Tanaka
Rikako Inoue
Selected by Kuniko Nagasaki
Kira Segawa
Selected by Kazunari Hattori
Kanae Tominaga
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 five 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. Twenty entrants are selected to continue on to the second round of judging. Comments by the judges are subsequently sent to all entrants. (In the event of numerous entrants, comment recipients will be decided by the members of the secretariat.)
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, and the winner is presented 300,000 JPY to prepare for the show. Publicity assistance, including support in preparing a show leaflet, is also provided.
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/Graphic designer)
Art director and graphic designer Yuri Uenishi was born in Tokyo in 1987. In 2010, on graduating from Tama Art University with a concentration in Graphic Design, she joined Dentsu. Independence in 2021. Her works to date include the “World Table Tennis Championships 2015” poster (TV Tokyo) and Laforet Grand Bazar 2019 summer. Her hobbies are travel and mountain climbing in winter. She has visited 42 countries so far.
(Web Designer)
Web designer Ryoji Tanaka was born in Mie Prefecture in 1975. He founded Semitransparent Design in 2003. His major activities include planning of the exhibitions “tFont/fTime” at YCAM and “Illuminating Graphics 1 and 2” at Creation Gallery G8, as well as holding Semitransparent Design’s “Boring/Bored” exhibition at ggg.
(Illustrator)
Illustrator born in Tokyo in 1970. After graduating from Tama Art University, where she majored in Textile Design, she became active in diverse areas including: as an illustrator, providing cover art and illustrations for books; writing essays relating to the cinema; and creating manga. She also serves as Associate Professor in the Visual Design program of Joshibi University of Art and Design.
(Graphic designer)
Graphic designer Kazunari Hattori was born in Tokyo in 1964. After graduating from the Department of Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he initially worked for Light Publicity before going freelance. His major works include art direction of the magazines “Ryuko Tsushin,” “here and there” and “Mayonaka”; and, for Hermès Japon, art direction of “Hermès Bespoke Objects” and “L’atelier petit h.” He also performed VI planning for the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art.
(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.