Starting March 20 (Tue) Guardian Garden will host the 18th “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 March 23 (Fri), 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 is the privilege of holding a solo show at the gallery one year later, plus 200,000 yen to prepare for the show.
The eighteenth exhibition in this series brings together an eclectic array of young photographers. Franco Tadeo Inada pursues visualization of the Bible. Ayano Kageyama has been photographing her two younger sisters and her hometown for nine years. Taro Karibe is undertaking a project in which his subjects write letters to missing relatives on the back of his photos of them. Taisuke Nakano creates unique images by first doctoring a photo in some way—for example, by placing an object on top of it—and then reshooting. Lily Shu will show snapshots she has taken in a variety of locations. Chiawen Lin shoots street views in black and white from objective and personal perspectives.
Franco Tadeo Inada
Born in 1982. Graduated from Aichi University of the Arts, Faculty of Art, with a concentration in Design.
“Before taking the yoke and coming to the end”
Even today the Bible is read worldwide and is a companion to many people. I expressed it not as something of the past, but from a new approach as something alive in the present.
Ayano Kageyama
Born in 1992. Graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Photography.
“Dear Emotion”
No matter how much time may pass, photographs bring back to life feelings not visible to the eye, the flow of time, and important things we forget as days go by. This, I think, is the power of photography I believe in.
Taro Karibe
Born in 1988. Graduated from Nanzan University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Psychology and Human Relations.
“Letters To You”
Written messages addressed to missing family members by Rohingya refugees – people of a tribe said “not to exist” – banished from their homeland. Their real existence emerges from the physical traces etched into my polaroid snapshots.
Taisuke Nakano
Born in 1994. Graduated from Musashino Art University, majoring in Imaging Arts and Sciences.
“Hyper ≠ Linking with…”
Words somebody said, having a connection with somebody, shattered what I had thought into pieces and transported me to a different place. Where am I, I wonder. Maybe in a parallel world.
Lily Shu
Born in 1988.
“Circulation”
Through time, before the story, precipitation of experiences.
Recognition, hypothesis, assumption about the time and age I live;
reflection, alienation, circulation of the silent beings with fierce directivity.
Chiawen Lin
Born in 1988. Completed a Master’s Degree in Photography at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Faculty of Film and TV.
“J”
exploration / the unknown / losing one’s way / familiarity / living / love / good things / work / taking photos / not compromising / giving up / escaping / how to live in Japan / travel without a purpose
Born in 1982. Graduated from Aichi University of the Arts, Faculty of Art, with a concentration in D...
Born in 1992. Graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Photograph...
Taro Karibe (b.1988) is a Japanese photographer based in Tokyo, Japan. His main concern is to make e...
Born in 1994. Graduated from Musashino Art University, majoring in Imaging Arts and Sciences, in 201...
Born in 1988 Harbin, China.
Graduated from Aesthetics Studies (BA) in Saitama University
Art History...
Born in 1988. Completed a Master’s Degree in Photography at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague...
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
