The 15th “1_WALL” Graphics Exhibition is part of an open competition for the right to mount a solo show at Guardian Garden. The exhibition will feature works by six finalists after two rounds of judging: the first round focusing on all entrants’ portfolios, and the second round consisting of one-on-one discussions between the graphic designers selected in the initial round and the judges. For this group exhibition, each finalist is allocated one wall on which to show his or her works.
The final round of judging will take place on October 5 (Wed), i.e. while the exhibition is in progress. During this round, which is open to the public, the six finalists will each give a presentation of his or her works, and the judges will then discuss the relative merits of the six contenders’ works and select the Grand Prize winner. The winner’s prize is the privilege of holding a solo show at the gallery one year later, together with the right to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
As always, this latest in the series of “1_WALL Graphics Exhibitions” brings together a diverse array of modes of artistic expression. Itsuka Umemaru, using unique characters and graphics, visually depicts “Yomi-Yomi’s World.” Sawako Kageyama’s contribution is animation that unfolds on paper like a picture scroll. Ryosuke Kataoka expresses boxing scenes using geometric figures and abstract people. Kurokawa, focusing on the myriad expressive movements of the hand, has drawn a hand in 100 different poses. Miyuki Shigeno offers up 1-page comics reflecting her surrealistic worldview. And Minami Tsunogawa, by combining colors and shapes, presents a collection of two- and three-dimensional houses.
Itsuka Umemaru
Born in 1987.
“Yomi-Yomi’s World”
Yomi-Yomi’s world is neither this world nor the other one, after death. It’s the scenes deceased people thought most beautiful during their lives. Yomi-Yomi is the embodiment of my wish to think about the deceased.
Sawako Kageyama
Born in 1993. Currently studying Graphic Design at Tama Art University.
“Hellish”
“What’ll come next?” I draw changes, instant by instant. The happy. The sad. The days that pass like always, and never end.
Ryosuke Kataoka
Born in 1993. Currently concentrating in Graphic Design at Tokyo Zokei University.
“BAD BUT NOT BAD”
“Not necessary, eh?” My plan: to place into our parched lives people wearing round gloves in a square boxing ring.
Kurokawa
Born in 1993. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a degree in Graphic Design.
“Hand?”
With curiosity and enjoyment, I drew an ordinary hand of the kind attached like always to my arms.
Miyuki Shigeno
Born in 1985. Graduated from Chubi Central Art School.
“SABAKU COMICS”
What I want to do, and want others to do, is to set aside what’s difficult and just draw fun-colored lines that make words dizzy and rip into poems.
Minami Tsunogawa
Born in 1988. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a degree in Graphic Design.
“Houses”
My favorite colors and favorite shapes. People crave for the concept of “color and shape” for entertainment or pleasure. I decided on shapes for houses, colored them, and made them three-dimensional. And as I did so, more and more I imagined the people who live in them.
Graduated from the Graphic Design course of Tama Art University. Currently studying in the Departmen...
Ryosuke Kataoka
Born in 1993. Currently concentrating in Graphic Design at Tokyo Zokei University.
Born in 1993. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a degree in Graphic Design.
Born in 1985. Graduated from Chubi Central Art School.
Born in 1988. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a degree in Graphic Design.
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Rika Eguchi（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).
Daijiro Ohara（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)
Yutanpo Shirane（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.
Dainippon Type Organization 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.
Kiyonori Muroga（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.
Organizer: Guardian Garden
