Starting October 31 (Tue) Guardian Garden will host the 17th “1_WALL” Photography Exhibition, part of an open competition for the right to mount a solo show at the gallery. The exhibition will feature works by six 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 photographers selected in the initial round and the judges. In this group exhibition, each finalist is allocated one wall on which to show his or her works.
The final round of judging will take place on November 2 (Thu), i.e. while the exhibition is in progress. During this round, which is open to the public, the six finalists will give presentations about their works, and the judges will then discuss the relative merits of the six contenders’ works and select the Grand Prize winner. The winner’s prize includes the privilege of holding a solo show at the gallery one year later, 100,000 yen to prepare for the show, plus the right to prepare an exhibition pamphlet.
The seventeenth exhibition in this series brings together an eclectic array of young photographers. Manami Uetake connects the moles and blemishes on her father’s back, as though they were constellations, and photographs the results. Yu Kawasaki takes photos of his family, offering glimpses of the chaos and tranquility to be found in everyday life. Satoshi Terada, using silkscreen, prints photographs of his pregnant wife on newspaper pages. Den Gai photographs scenes, together with people, of towns that once flourished from oil production but are now abandoned. Mio Fukuda depicts her own ill-at-ease feelings amid her ties with others and with society. Machiko Fujimoto takes periodic portrait photos of the same two people.
Manami Uetake
Born in 1988. Currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
“Father’s Constellations”
My father spent his working life moving between construction sites all over Japan. His sixty-year-old body became darkened by the sun, and he has jaundice spreading all over it. I connected the moles and blemishes scattered across his back, like connecting stars in a night sky.
Yu Kawasaki
Born in 1985. Completed a Master’s Degree in American Literature in the Graduate School of Language and Society at Hitotsubashi University.
“Scenes”
I feel a close affinity with the tragicomical chaos and tranquility that can be glimpsed in everyday life, completely unrelated to how people think after a celebration or a tragedy.
Satoshi Terada
Born in 1982. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a major in Photography.
“What Happened During Pregnancy”
As plain everyday images and newspaper articles occasionally impact each other, the time passes toward the baby’s due date.
Den Gai
Born in 1984. Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute.
“Black Water”
Near the end of the Cultural Revolution, those in power transformed wastelands into towns in order to develop oil fields. Several years later, oil production fell and the towns were abandoned. Do people who grew up in such places feel nostalgic about them?
Mio Fukuda
Born in 1995. Currently studying Science of Design at Musashino Art University.
“Nobody Knows”
Only the part of me that fell by the wayside, unable to keep up the pose within my connections with others and with society, stares at the world.
Machiko Fujimoto
Born in 1983.
“Untitled”
A photo just of two people standing still in time. Inexpressible sentiments build.
Born in 1988. Expected to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the...
Born in 1985. Completed a Master’s Degree in American Literature in the Graduate School of Language ...
Born in 1982. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University with a major in Photography.
Born in 1984. Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute (Photo Criticism Seminar) in 2014.
2018 Gr...
Born in 1995. Studied Science of Design at Musashino Art University.
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Kotaro Iizawa（Photography Critic）
Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1954. In 1984 he completed a PhD in Art at the University of Tsukuba. From 1990 to 1994 he served as editor-in-chief of the quarterly photography magazine “Deja-vu.” His recent publications include “Photobooks make the history!” (CMS) and “Archive of Contemporary Japanese Photography 2011-2013” (Seikyusha).
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).
Arata Dodo（Photographer）
Born in Osaka in 1974, raised in Nara. In 1995 he won the “Konica Introducing New Generation Photographers” Grand Prix. In 1999 he published the photo book “Ways of Shanghai 1994-1999” (Mole Press). In 2000 he received the Photographic Society of Japan’s Newcomer’s Award; in 2004, the New York ADC Jury’s Special Award; and in 2009, the Japan Advertising Photographers’ Association Outstanding Advertising Award. In 2012 he published the photo book “TAIGAN” (AKAAKA Art Publishing Inc.) and received the 38th Kimura Ihei Award.
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
