The 18th “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 February 27 (Tue), 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, plus 200,000 yen to prepare for the show.
As always, this latest in the series of “1_WALL” Graphics Exhibitions brings together six diverse up-and-coming young designers. Manami Kawamura creates works by tracing “what she is looking at now.” Shimizu draws unique illustrations depicting the worldview of toys from the 1960s and ’70s. Kobushi Nakata makes a picture book with a donkey as its protagonist, giving thought to the structure of pictures and books. Naoya Hirata creates works by assembling images collected from the Internet and fashioning them like sculptures in imaginary spaces. Thought Fukunishi fuses poems of his own making with the world of graphics. And Monyochita Pomichi draws cute characters of colorful young girls.
Manami Kawamura
Born in 1996. Currently attending Joshibi University of Art and Design, majoring in Visual Design.
“Re-present”
I traced what I had, wanting to do them again, this time spending more time.
Shimizu
Born in 1993. Graduated from Tama Art University with a concentration in Graphic Design. Prinicipal of Omakeboshi, an online shop and occasional variety store.
“New Fashion”
“New fashion” is a catchphrase often used to promote cheap toys in Showa days. I make new things because I want a thrilling and dreamy world to continue to be “new” in the future.
Kobushi Nakata
Born in 1988.
“Thinking about picture books”
The first volume is a weather donkey. The squares are coordinates of volume and movement. My goal is to draw pictures between pages.
Naoya Hirata
Born in 1991. Graduated from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Sculpture.
“‘Demon’ ‘Space Ship’ ‘Royal Drive’”
Objects in a perfectly dead world. A futile struggle to be liberated from the worry of something breaking or being lost.
Thought Fukunishi
Born in 1992. Graduated from Wako University, Faculty of Representational Studies, Department of Transcultural Studies.
“Grammatical Engine”
To retrieve, in our hands, the power to respond to the call of “meaning” and “experience” passing through our bodies at the boundary between “graphics to be seen” and “poetry to be read.”
Monyochita Pomichi
Born in 1996. Auditor in the Department of Art and Design at Kiryu University Junior College.
“I tried holding it”
No matter how heavy, no matter how light, they try holding different things looking cool and composed. When they hold something, no matter what, it always looks stylish.
Born in 1996. Currently studying Visual Design at Joshibi University of Art and Design.
Born in 1993. Graduated from Tama Art University with a concentration in Graphic Design. Prinicipal ...
Born in 1991. Graduated from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Sculpture.
Born in 1992. Graduated from Wako University, Faculty of Representational Studies, Department of Tra...
Born in 1996. Auditor in the Department of Art and Design at Kiryu University Junior College.
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Eriko Kawakami（Art director）
Art director born in Tokyo in 1982. She graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Design, in 2006, and in 2008 she joined Draft Co., Ltd. She went freelance in 2018. Her major work to date includes: “RURU MARY’S” for Mary Chocolate Co.; branding for Marumatsu Tea Co.’s “san grams” tea; graphics for Pocchiri, specialists in coin purses; and the in-house product maker “D-BROS.” She has won a JAGDA Award, Tokyo ADC Award and JAGDA New Designer Award.
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.
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.
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
Organizer: Guardian Garden
