The 6th “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 of the photographers selected in the initial round. The final round of judging will take place on April 5 (Thu), 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, based on which the judges will select the Grand Prix winner. The winner’s prize is the privilege of mounting a solo show at the gallery one year later plus the right to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
The “1_WALL” series was started in 2009 to supersede the earlier “Hitotsubo” exhibitions. Through three rounds of judging, the entrants in this open competition are evaluated for their creative talent and potential. The competition gives all entrants an opportunity to test the limits of their expressive capabilities.
The sixth exhibition in the series has brought together works depicting people and scenes from everyday life, each reflecting the photographer’s unique and probing perspective: moments in time – moments of near misses with would-be acquaintances captured through portraits of powerful yet hushed gazes turned away from the camera’s lens; works taken around the city, bathed in soft light that relieves pain and anxieties; photos expressing gaps in perception or dimension, captured through a digitally processed empty window, etc. We eagerly invite you to join us to find out who will grab this year’s Grand Prix, destined to become a new star in the photographic pantheon.
The 6 Finalists
*At the open round of final judging on April 5, Yuki Kumagai was selected as the Grand Prix winner.
Kuniya Oyamada
Born in 1976.Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University.
“displacement”
An era of ulta-replicating technology in a digital society. I want to cross a new horizon of photography.
Shiho Kito
Born in 1980.Graduated from Waseda University, School of Education, Department of English Language and Literature. Completed a Master’s Degree in Department of Photography, London College of Communication.
“WALLS”
Why are people so different from one another? Repeatedly encountering the unknown and then moving further away. We won’t be here forever. The photo occurs at a moment of passing time.
＊Grand Prize Winner＊
Yuki Kumagai
Born in 1988.
“Luxury”
People see only what they want to see.
But beyond that, there is something we can still imagine.
Yuya Koike
Born in 1987.Graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University.
“out line”
Until seeing this picture,
I questioned the meaning
of self and photo.
Tamaki Saito
Born in 1980. Graduated from Tokyo Gakugei University, Master of educational psychology. Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute, Unit 2.
“phantom limb pain”
There is a sharp pain in a missing part of my being.
A faint light can only be captured when genuinely examined.
That is the only way to relieve this pain.
Nao Manabe
Born in 1987. Graduated from Visual Arts College Osaka.
“dreaming with my eyes wide open”
A connection with another world is formed in the short moment that the shutter is pressed.
In the border between that world and this world, there is a bottomless darkness and a hopeful light that flickers just in front of it.
I will always try to open my eyes.
Shiho Kito is a Japanese photographer, researcher and independent curator currently based in Tokyo, ...
Yuki Kumagai
Born in Shizuoka 1988. 2012 Graduated from Tamagawa University College of Arts, Department of Performing Arts, theater course, Currently, working as an assistant for Photographer, Hiroshi Noguchi.
Awards:
2012 The 6th “1_Wall” photography Competition Grand Prize
Exhibitions:
2012 The 6th “1_Wall” photography Competition Exhibition, Guardian Garden, Tokyo
Photographer
Born in Shizuoka, JAPAN, 1987
Based in Tokyo JAPAN
Education:
2006-2010 BA in Photograp...
Born in Tokyo, 1980. 2004 Graduated from Tokyo Gakugei University, Master of educational psychology....
Nao Manabe
Born in 1987. Graduated from Visual Arts College Osaka. Currently working at a photo studio in Tokyo.
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Shin Akiyama（Graphic designer, Publisher）
Established schtucco in 2000. Established edition.nord in 2008. Involved in numerous photo and art books. 2013 included photo books by Taiji Matsue, Risaku Suzuki, and Takehiko Nakafuji, exhibition catalogs by Ohtake Shinro and Kodai Nakahara, and editions by Gozo Yoshimasu and Tadashi Kawamata.
Kisei Kobayashi（Photographer and Artist）
Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1968. Graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University Junior College Department of Photography. Became a freelance photographer in 1991 after working as a newspaper cameraman. Winner of the 1997 Photographic Society of Japan’s Newcomer’s Award for DAYS ASIA. Presently works across a variety of mediums including for magazines, advertisements, commercials, and writers. Photo books include Hanahaneni, SUWA, days new york, homeland, and more.
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).
Kimi Himeno（Principal and director of AKAAKA Art Publishing）
Established AKAAKA Art Publishing in 2006. To date the company has published more than 200 books, mainly photo books and art books. Publications include many recipients of the Kimura Ihei Award: Lieko Shiga (“CANARY” 2007); Atsushi Okada (“I am” 2007); Masashi Asada (“Asadake” 2008); Cozue Takagi (“MID” 2009; “GROUND” 2009); Arata Dodo (“Taigan” 2012); Ryuichi Ishikawa (“A Grand Polyphony” 2014; “okinawan portraits 2010-2012” 2014); and Aya Fujioka (“Here Goes River” 2017). Since 2018 she is also a professor at Osaka University of Arts.
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
