The 23rd “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 five 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 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.
Live streaming of the final round of judging will take place while the exhibition is in progress.During this round, which is open to the public, the five finalists will give presentations of their works, and the judges will then discuss the relative merits of the five 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 300,000 yen to prepare for the show.
This latest in the series of group exhibitions brings together five diverse up-and-coming young designers. Shoko Ishikawa creates “neo ceramics” by embroidering and printing on cloth as depictions of vases and other receptacles. Seri uses wood and vinyl tape to construct spatial art consisting of installations and flat graphics. Hirate makes works from forms to be worn as fashion, an idea born from a sense of distance from others. Yuka Hotta probes the concept of characters and draws with pencil and acrylic paints on plywood. Eri Yagi creates drawings in watercolors and pencil taking inspiration from things that happen to her.
Shoko Ishikawa
Born in 1995. Graduated from Tama Art University with a concentration in Textile Design.
“Neo Ceramics”
I embroider cloth very slowly, as if I were working with clay. I entrust my work’s final process to a press machine, as if placing a glazed bowl into a kiln. Through this work I perform new experiments in ceramics.
Seri
Born in 1996. Currently studying Design in the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts.
“Planet Nanakusa”
A new realm. This is a collage, founded in a belief in chaos, that uses universal elements, forms, floating in the world. It suggests an air of other planets existing in parallel.
Hirate
Born in 1997.
“You are my escape.”
I want to meet you, to talk to you. No matter who you are or what form you take, you have a body, as do I. If we talked about that, I thought maybe we could chat with the same ease as just saying hi to each other.
Yuka Hotta
Born in 1999. Currently studying Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
“C”
As the embodiment of drawing, I affix traces of characterized representations on a support. What remains on that surface of dismantled meaning? What floats there?
Eri Yagi
Born in 1994. Currently studying at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School, majoring in Oil Painting Technique and Material.
“LIFE, SAVE, AH〜”
My private daydreams become intentions that move the world. But this is forgotten. By sharing what I daydream with others, I hope to make this known a little.
Shoko Ishikawa
Born in 1995. Graduated from Tama Art University with a concentration in Textile Design. Currently affiliated with the Integrated Design Laboratory of the same university.
Seri
Born in 1996. Currently studying Design in the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts.
Hirate
July 25, 1997 Born in Kanagawa Prefecture
2016 Entered Tama Art University, majoring in oil painting. Joined the “Yarimizudaiko” club of taiko drum players.
2018 Withdrew from the university and started working in a butcher shop. Simultaneously began living on her own.
2019 Also started working at a sushi restaurant.
2020 Graduated from Yarimizudaiko and joined, and completed, the 24th primary course of coconogacco.
2021 In January, quit her job at the butcher shop.
Thereafter, plans are undecided.
Born in 1999. Currently studying Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Eri Yagi
Born in 1994. Currently studying at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School, majoring in Oil Painting Technique and Material.
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Yuri Uenishi（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.
Ryoji Tanaka（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.
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.
Kazunari Hattori（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.
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
