Commencing September 2 (Mon), Guardian Garden will host the 9th “1_WALL” Graphics Exhibition, part of an open competition for the right to mount a solo show at the gallery. The exhibition will feature works by the six competition finalists after two rounds of judging: the first round focused on all entrants’ portfolios, and the second round, conducted on a one-to-one basis between the entrants and the judges, evaluated the portfolio presentations of the graphic designers selected in the initial round. Each finalist is allocated one wall in the gallery on which to show his or her works. The final round of judging will take place on September 5 (Thu), while the exhibition is in progress. During this round, which is open to the public, the six finalists will each give a presentation, based on which the judges will select the Grand Prix winner. The winner’s prize is the privilege of mounting a solo show at the gallery one year later plus the right to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
The ninth exhibition in the series brings together works by the following six finalists: Ai Teramoto, who draws futuristic fashions based on folk costumes; Mahiro Miyama, who, with a cynical eye, portrays the irony lurking in everyday life and people; Kaoru Yokoyama, who, with a breezy touch, draws damsels of fragile vulnerability; Tombo Sensei, who takes up the challenge of transforming, with simple lines, animals to icons; Masamitsu Katsu, who pursues the possibilities of the act of drawing with pencil; and Rio Ebato, who adds a touch to commonplace scenes, creating images rich in humor.
Who will use the graphic medium to best advantage and grab the Grand Prix? We eagerly invite you to join us to find out.
The 6 Finalists
*At the open round of final judging on September 5, Ai teramoto was selected as the Grand Prix winner.
Rio Ebato
Born in 1989. Completed the Scenography, Display and Fashion Design graduate course at Musashino Art University.
“user”
At first glance, whoosh!
At second glance, gosh!
These are works like that.
Masamitsu Katsu
Born in 1981. Graduated from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Scenography, Display and Fashion Design.
“Draw it”
Commencing from the notion of the relationship between the act of pencil sketching and the embodiment of today,
I create works that update the role of pencil sketching from what it conventionally has been.
＊Grand Prize Winner＊
Ai Teramoto
Born in 1990.Graduated from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Scenography, Display and Fashion Design.
“nomadic delivery person”
Dignified beauty, strength. Eyes like a light source
The clothes wrapping the healthy body is by no means a fantasy.
Born from a truly existing life, it continues to the next era.
Tombo Sensei
Born in 1983.Completed a Master’s Degree in Graduate School of Arts, Sculpture Course, Kyoto City University of Arts.
“hello TOMBOSENSEI”
Tombo Sensei appears anywhere, simply by drawing three lines.
Here, I release all possibilities and develops them unsparingly.
Listless smiles to the world!
Mahiro Miyama
Born in 1982.Graduated from Graphic Design at Tama Art University.
“happy set”
Young men and women, ordinary people and noble people, deflated feelings and inflated excitement.
My hope is to convey a sense of liberation mixing them all together.
Kaoru Yokoyama
Born in 1990. Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design with a concentration in visual design.
“What do you want?”
I want to touch what’s beyond my reach. Though my words don’t flow and I’m lacking in facial expression, I want you to understand.
Born in 1989. Completed the Scenography, Display and Fashion Design graduate course at Musashino Art...
Masamitsu Katsu
Born in 1981. Graduated from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Scenography, Display and Fashion Design.
TOMBOSENSEI is an illustrator whose creative concept is, “Just draw three lines, anywhere, and a cha...
Kaoru Yokoyama
Born in 1990. Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design with a concentration in visual design.
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Koji Iyama（Art director, Graphic designer）
Art director and graphic designer born in 1967. Graduated from Tama Art University with a concentration in Graphic Design. After working at Nippon Design Center, he established Iyama Design. His major clients include Shueisha Inc. (“Natsu Ichi”), Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. (“mt”) and The Institute of Medical Science of The University of Tokyo. Among the many awards he has won to date are the JAGDA New Designer Award, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Gold Lion, SPIKES ASIA Grand Prix, New York ADC Gold Award, CLIO Gold Award and Japan Sign Design Association (SDA) Award First Prize.
Masahiro Kakinokihara（Art director）
Masahiro Kakinokihara was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1970. He joined DRAFT in 1996, and established 10 inc. in 2007. To date he has won a JAGDA New Designer Award, Tokyo ADC Award, One Show Silver Pencil Award and a New York ADC Silver Award. Among his most renowned works are: branding for “Singing AEON”; VI and branding for R.O.U.; “The Smile in Japanese Art” (exhibition at Mori Art Museum); corporate identity for Shizuoka City Museum of Art; and design work for Fuji Chuo Kindergarten and Rocca. Mr. Kakinokihara is a member of JAGDA and Tokyo ADC.
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.
Jun Tsuzuki（Illustrator）
Illustrator born in Tokyo in 1962. A graduate of Musashino Art University, between the 1980s and into the new millennium he garnered numerous awards in graphics competitions and for his contributions to advertising. In 2010 he mounted the exhibition “New Eidos,” followed in 2013 by “Jun Tsuzuki x Hideki Nakazawa.” In 2015 he held a lecture on “After New Eidos / An Investigation of 1980-2000.” He supervised and contributed to “Nihon Irasutore-shonshi” [A History of Japanese Illustration]. He also supervises and appears on NHK’s “Art 1” program for high school students.jti.ne.jp
Kuniko Nagasaki（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.
Organizer: Guardian Garden
