The 24th “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 designers. Mamiko Kakitsubo expresses human traces through forms created from terra cotta and other materials, and drawings. Kozue Sagawa / Makoto Morino explores communication through works created by two: an imaginary person and herself. Minori Takahashi pursues unique forms in creating installations from concrete, wood, earth, etc. Tomoko Matsuura feels a sense of desolation in the passage of time, and expresses it in two- and three-dimensional works and videos. Wang Qin probes 3D expressions of stillness and motion using the alphabet as his theme.
Mamiko Kakitsubo
Born in 1993.Currently in the graduate program in Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts.
“someday somewhere”
When I think of someone who is no longer here, I can meet them again by tracing back over landscapes and things. Signs of people dwelling in landscapes seen somewhere at some time or in everyday things. Undefined and vague human portraits.
Kozue Sagawa,Makoto Morino
Born in 1997.Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design with a concentration in Visual Design.
“REM”
Makoto Morino is an imaginary person. Always somewhere sensing imperfect communication, I attempt acts not quite of communication. I, Kozue Sagawa, attempt it through you, Makoto Morino.
Minori Takahashi
Born in 1994.Graduated from Tama Art University with a degree in Oil Painting.
“Fossils of shelves”
I create on the theme of “the changing form of things.” Lately, I’m especially interested in how things change form with the passage of time, like historic ruins, and in the forms of things we use every day once they are no longer a convenience.
Tomoko Matsuura
Born in 1992.Employed at atelier e.f.t.
“That’s for sure”
In my everyday life, I’m startled by many different things. I create my works eager to express those things I feel as purely as possible!
Wang Qin
Born in 1990.Currently studying Graphic Design in the Doctoral Degree Program of Tama Art University’s Graduate School of Art and Design.
“A-Z”
I probed lettering true to myself by playfully combining things I see every day and things I imagine with letter forms. In flat works and videos, 2D and 3D, the organic and inorganic, interesting aspects of the alphabet are reborn.
Born in 1997. Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design with a concentration in Visual Des...
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
