The 24th “1_WALL” Photography Exhibition is part of an open competition for the right to mount a solo show at Guardian Garden. The exhibition will feature works by five 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 designers selected in the initial round and the judges. For this group exhibition, each finalist is allocated one wall on which to show his or her works.
Live streaming of the final round of judging will take place while the exhibition is in progress. During this round, which is open to the public, the five finalists will give presentations of their works, and the judges will then discuss the relative merits of the five 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 300,000 yen to prepare for the show.
The twenty-fourth exhibition in this series brings together an eclectic array of five young photographers. Kou Kimura photographed, over time, the people living in Thailand’s Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate, their homes and their landscapes. Mio Sakato shot outdoor portraits of various women wearing a tanktop and jeans. Akane Shirai created visual works depicting two different families: her own and that of her mentor. Eiri Motoyoshi seeks to probe the inner workings of people not limited by their physical gender. Lin Yuhan used sensors to automatically photograph people walking at night.
Kou Kimura
Born in 1986.Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute.
Faces of Amata Nakorn,the “Eternal City”
This is a new industrial estate and its newly built residences. People call this place “Amata Nakorn” – the “Eternal City” – but no such town exists on any map.
Mio Sakato
Born in 1999.Graduated from Visual Arts Osaka.
“Naked”
Graduated from Visual Arts Osaka.
I photograph my subjects outdoors, all wearing the same clothes. What meaning do clothes have for them? I examine the relationship between women and clothing based on their gestures and facial expressions.
Akane Shirai
Born in 1998.Graduated from Kyoto University of the Arts’ Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Photography and Video Course.
“Connections”
I photographed two families to answer my question, dating back to my childhood, of what makes a family. The unyielding way they live in the present negates any illusions and seemed to pierce straight through to their reality.
Eiri Motoyoshi
Born in 1986.Graduated from Nippon Sport Science University’s Faculty of Sport Science, Department of Physical Education.
“One day, boys”
Is there an immutable axis of agreement between a person’s physical gender and psychological gender? My subjects create their own axis by strong will, and exemplify how to live with the heart and body they were born with.
Lin Yuhan
Born in 1996.Currently studying in Tokyo University of the Arts’ Department of Intermedia Art.
“850nm”
My photos are only possible using a camera that can record the infrared light emitted by a security camera. The shutter isn’t pressed by a human; the camera automatically shoots when activated by sensor.
Graduated from Nippon Photography Institute.
Worked for a publishing company as a photographer and b...
1998 Born in Shiga Prefecture.
2021 Graduated from Kyoto University of the Arts’ Photography and V...
Judges (in Japanese syllabary order)
Masashi Kohara（Curator）
As a curator at the Izu Photo Museum, he has organized exhibitions including “Nobuyoshi Araki Photobook Exhibition: Ararchy,” “Manabu Miyazaki: The Pencil of Nature” and “Tazuko Masuyama: Until Everything Becomes a Photograph.” He also curated “It’s a Small World: Imperial Festivals and Human Exhibitions.” He directed the documentary film “The Man Who Became a Camera: Photographer Takuma Nakahira,” and is recipient of the Koen Shigemori Photography Critic Award and The Photographic Society of Japan’s Scholastic Achievement Award, among others. He is an Associate Professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University and a Part-time lecturer at Kanagawa University and others.
Sayaka Takahashi（Gallery Director of PGI）
Born in Chiba Prefecture. Studied Literature at Waseda University under Osamu Hiraki. In 1998, she participated as a volunteer at the Higashikawa International Photo Festival, and from 2003 through 2010 served as the festival’s on-site production leader and assistant director. Since the winter of 1998, she has been involved in work relating to photographic preservation and display at Photo Gallery International (PGI), where as Director she is in charge of exhibition planning and operation.
Yoshihisa Tanaka（Graphic Designer and Artist）
Born in 1980. His major work to date includes VI planning for Tokyo Photographic Art Museum and other cultural facilities, art direction of the POST bookshop and the TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR, and periodic creation of works as an artist. He is also active as half of the artist duo “Nerhol,” together with sculptor Ryuta Iida.
Nao Tsuda（Photographer）
Born in Kobe in 1976. Traveling the globe, through his camera lens he continuously depicts the ongoing relationship between man and nature tracing back to ancient times. Since 2001 the focus of his work has been numerous exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. His photo collections include SMOKE LINE (AKAAKA), Storm Last Night (AKAAKA) and Elnias Forest (handpicked). He currently serves as a Visiting Professor at Osaka University of Arts.
Rika Noguchi（Photographer）
Born in 1971 in Saitama City, currently living in Naha, Okinawa. In 1994 she graduated from Nihon University’s College of Art, Department of Photography. She began production of photographic works during he university years, and has been active both in Japan and abroad mainly with exhibitions of her works. She has also participated in numerous international exhibitions of contemporary art, most recently the 21st Biennale of Sydney, “SUPERPOSITION: Equilibrium & Engagement” (2018).
Organizer: Guardian Garden
