The 2nd “1_WALL” Photography 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 focused on all entrants’ portfolios, and the second round reviewed the portfolios of the photographers selected in the initial round.
The final round of judging will take place on March 26 (Fri), i.e. while the exhibition is in progress. During this round, which is open to the public, the six finalists will give presentations of their works, based on which the judges will select the Grand Prize winner. The winner’s prize is the privilege of mounting a solo show at the gallery one year later, with permission to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
The “1_WALL” series was launched in August 2009 to supersede the earlier “Hitotsubo” exhibitions, which had a total run of 30 shows. The first competition in the new series was won by Shimai Nakayama, and much interest is being shown toward her current and future activities in photography. While the “Hitotsubo” series involved a single round of judging, the addition of a second round in the “1_WALL” series tests the entrants’ depth of commitment as artists even more.
We hope many visitors will come to see who among the six finalists will be the worthy Grand Prize winner.
The 6 Finalists
*At the open round of final judging on March 26, Daisuke Yokota was selected as the Grand Prix winner.
Hiroshi Takizawa
Born in 1983.
“dream exit”
When a dream has consciousness,
reality grows distant from the body.
After we realize how fragile our physical and spiritual beings are,
then even when we say something loudly, it doesn’t resonate.
Nao Nakai
Born in 1978. Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute.
“PROGESTERON”
I wanted to photograph the “being” called “woman.”
The “body” that, because it is alive, changes daily;
The “mind” that, because it is alive, wavers daily.
Women are brimming with many strange wonders.
Yasuzi Bon
Born in 1983. Graduated from Kyoto University of Education, Art and Communication.
“just nearby”
To reach a state of “just looking,” besides detaching a purpose,
it’s necessary to maintain silence to superfluous monologue.
Then I shoot the resultant “exterior.”
Arata Mino
Born in 1987.
“A motorcycle goes to Alphaville”
Welcome to Alphaville.
＊Grand Prize Winner＊
Daisuke Yokota
Born in 1983. Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute (NPI).
“Fog”
What is it? Who is it?
I know. But I don’t look; I can’t see it.
We share a space in our recollections, our memories, our hazy view.
Kazuo Yoshida
Born in 1982. Graduated from University of Shiga Perfecture, BA Culture and Humanities.
“moon’s surface”
Reproduce by photo. Time has no perspective, feel with the retina.
Flowing scenes, oscillating thoughts and feelings, consider everything
as countless points and darken synchronized tracks.
Born in Osaka 1983. Graduated from Kyoto University of Education, Art and Communication in 2007. Att...
Daisuke Yokota
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1983, Daisuke Yokota graduated from Nippon Photography Institute (NPI). In 2010, he won the Grand Prize in the 2nd “1_WALL” Photography Competition. In 2013, he received the Outset Unseen Exhibition Fund at the Unseen Photo Fair; in 2015, the John Kobal Residency Award at Photo London; and in 2016, the Foam Paul Huf Award. Yokota has published numerous photobooks, including MATTER/BURN OUT, VERTIGO and Taratine. His major solo exhibitions include “Site/Cloud” (2014) and “Matter” (2017), both at Foam. He has also participated in “Trans-dimensional Photos: Images in the Future Tense,” part of The Column Project at Aichi Triennale 2016; “Shape of Light” at Tate Modern in 2018; and “Painting the Night” at Centre Pompidou in 2018-2019. In 2016, Yokota formed the unit “Spew” together with photographers Koji Kitagawa and Naohiro Utagawa. Spew undertakes a broad array of artistic activities that also encompasses zine production and musical performance.
Born in Hyogo 1982. Graduated from University of Shiga Perfecture, BA Culture and Humanities in 2004...
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
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.
Risaku Suzuki（Photographer）
Born in Shingu, Wakayama, in 1963. In 2000 he received the 25th Kimura Ihei Award in Photography for “PILES OF TIME.” His recent publications include “Water Mirror” (Case Publishing / Fine-Art Photography Association), “SAKURA” (edition nord), “Étude” (SUPER LABO), “Between the Sea and the Mountain – Kumano ” (amanasalto), “Ishiki no nagare” [Stream of Consciousness] (edition nord) and “Atelier of Cézanne” (Nazraeli Press).
Mariko Takeuchi（Critic of photography）
Rika Noguchi（Photographer）
Born in 1971 in Saitama City, currently living in Naha, Okinawa. In 1994 she graduated from Nihon University’s College of Art, Department of Photography. She began production of photographic works during he university years, and has been active both in Japan and abroad mainly with exhibitions of her works. She has also participated in numerous international exhibitions of contemporary art, most recently the 21st Biennale of Sydney, “SUPERPOSITION: Equilibrium & Engagement” (2018).
Satoshi Machiguchi（Art director, Publisher）
President of the design studio match and company, inc. In 2005 he launched “M,” a photo book label, and began operating “bookshop M,” a website selling photo books. Since 2008 he has continuously exhibited his works at “Paris Photo,” one of the world’s foremost photography festivals, just one example of how he demonstrates his unique approach to his art. He probes the possibilities of Japanese photo books from a global perspective.
Organizer: Guardian Garden
