The 4th “1_WALL” Photography Exhibition is part of an open competition for the right to mount a solo show at Guardian Garden. The exhibition features works by the six finalists after two rounds of judging: the first round focused on all entrants’ portfolios, and the second round evaluated the portfolio presentations by the photographers selected in the initial round. The final round of judging will take place on April 7 (Thu), 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 holding a solo show at the gallery one year later, plus the right to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
The “1_WALL” open competitions were launched in 2009 to supersede the earlier “Hitotsubo” series of events. Through three rounds of judging, the entrants are evaluated for their artistic proficiency and future potential, as well as their level of commitment to expression through their art. In this fourth exhibition dedicated to photography, the six finalists will be allocated one wall (2.5 x 3.85m) each on which to show their works. We eagerly invite you to join us to find out who will grab this year’s Grand Prize – a rising star on the photographic horizon sure to garner much attention in the years to come.
The 6 Finalists
*At the open round of final judging on April 7, Naoyuki Hata was selected as the Grand Prix winner.
Shuta Iizuka
Born in 1982. Graduated from Musashino Art University with a concentration in Arts Policy and Management.
“Dust on the Sheets”
Against the backdrop of a bluish purple shadow, specks of dust were floating in the space between two buildings.
Kisara Okada
Born in 1988. Graduated from Musashino Art University, majoring in Imaging Arts and Sciences.
“Tokyo, Now”
In people, in photos, while getting overwhelmed by Tokyo I frantically looked for “Tokyo.” This work is a portrait of “Tokyo.”
Asako Saito
Born in 1975.
“Unconformity”
A huge gap in time between an outcrop formed in geologic times and man.
＊Grand Prize Winner＊
Naoyuki Hata
Born in 1979. Graduated from Chunichi Beauty College (Night School), Gifu Keizai University (Faculty of Economics, Department of Industrial Business Administration), and Tokyo School of Photography.
“submerge garden”
I wondered how the world would look submerged in water. I think I was feeling a sense of pressure like that.
Arata Mino
Born in 1987. Currently studying at Waseda University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“Play #01：Photo Drama”
A photo about a play about a photo.
Takahiro Yamashita
Born in 1984. Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute.
“Sleeping Next to a Miracle”
In my hometown there’s a nuclear power plant. It’s totally normal and nothing out of the ordinary for the people living there. It used to be my normal, too.
Born in 1982 at Saitama Prefecture.
Born in Hokkaido 1984. photographer. 2005 Graduated form Nippon Photography Institute. 2011 Selected...
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Osamu Kanemura（Photographer）
Born in Tokyo in 1964. In 1992, while studying at Tokyo College of Photography, invited to participate in “The 3rd Fotografie Biennale: Waste Land from Now on” in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In 1997, received a New Photographer Prize from the Photographic Society of Japan and also at the 13th Higashikawa International Photography Festival. In 2000, received the 19th Ken Domon Prize. His numerous publications include the photo collections Spider’s Strategy, In-between 12 Osamu Kanemura: Germany, Finland and German Suplex.
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).
Manabu Torihara（Researcher of photography）
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.
Yuri Mitsuda（Art critic）
Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Letters. In 2007 one of her publications won a Scholastic Achievement Award from the Photographic Society of Japan. Other published works include Words and Things: Jiro Takamatsu’s issue with Japanese Art 1961-72 and Photographs by Yasuzo Nojima.
Organizer: Guardian Garden
