The 8th “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. Each finalist is allocated one wall on which to show his or her works. The final round of judging will take place on April 4 (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 holding a solo show at the gallery one year later, plus the right to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
The eighth exhibition in the series brings together a colorful array of works by the six finalists after the first two rounds. These include: candid photos of the rooms of the house in which two sisters continue to live after their parents have passed away; works that, within the constraint of using the identical photo each time, constitute a record of repeated cutting and piecing back together; works that focus on modest feelings of guilt embraced by boys in their youth; and more.
We eagerly invite you to join us to find out who will grab this year’s Grand Prix – a rising star sure to be active in the work of photography in the years to come.
The 6 Finalists
*At the open round of final judging on April 4, Natsuki Kuroda was selected as the Grand Prix winner.
Riho Araki
Born in 1980. Completed research studies at Osaka University of Arts.
“home”
I have no problems. I just keep photographing my present life and this home
because I’m so fond of them.
I intend to continue keeping a record of my home
as it changes, little by little, over a long time span.
Naohiro Utagawa
Born in 1981. Graduated from Chuo University.
“picture”
For a long time I’ve asked myself who I am.
I hope to get close to finding an answer by dissecting myself into small pieces
and using a circular reasoning approach.
＊Grand Prize Winner＊
Natsuki Kuroda
Born in 1988. Graduated from Chuo University.
“child by the water”
I can only wonder why I was so sure
when I used to sense a connection between myself and the world.
But everyone lives harboring somewhere
the small events that occurred as a child.
Shantel Liao
Born in 1988.
“still nameless scenery”
More than anything, we fear ignorance. The story begins by giving it a name.
Memory aside, history can be made by feelings alone.
Attracted by that ambiguity, I want to objectively see the moment of christening.
Shinya Fukuda
Born in 1986.
“A sign of repetition”
In photographs I give expression once again to information lost through photography.
In the repetition of a task that eternally knows no end, I recognize fragmentary perception itself.
Akira Matsumo
Born in 1981.
“RADAR”
Concerning explorations of predicted events and their accuracy.
Born in 1980. Completed research studies at Osaka University of Arts.
Born in 1981. Graduated from Chuo University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Law, in 2004.
Major Solo Ex...
Natsuki Kuroda
Born in 1988. Graduated from Chuo University. Graduated from Chuo University, Faculty of Policy studies 2011. Be a member of the photography club at Waseda University 2007-2011.
Awards:
2012 The 8th “1_WALL” Photography Grand Prize
Shantel Liao
Born in 1988. Completed studies at Spéos Paris Photography School.
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.
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).
Hiromi Tsuchida（Photographer）
Born in Fukui Prefecture in 1939. His major works include Zokushin (1976), Hiroshima (1985), Counting Grains of Sand (1990) and BERLIN (2011). In 2008 he won the Domon Ken Award. Collections of his works are found at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris, etc.
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.
Rei Masuda（Chief curator at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo）
Born in Kobe in 1968. Completed the graduate course in Area Studies at the University of Tsukuba. Since 1992 he has worked at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT). Among exhibitions he has curated in recent years are: “Josef Koudelka Retrospective” (2013), “Narahara Ikko: Domains” (2014), and “Thomas Ruff” (2016).
Organizer: Guardian Garden
