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- Midori Sakakibara Exhibition: “Love & Baka”
EXHIBITION
The 3rd “1_WALL” Graphics Competition Grand Prize Winner
Midori Sakakibara Exhibition: “Love & Baka”
- DATES : Mon. June 13 - Thu. June 30, 2011
- HOURS : 12:00p.m.-7:00p.m.
- Closed Sundays. Admission Free.
Comically absurd, lovingly dear, such is the strikingly creative world of Midori Sakakibara, winner of the 3rd “1_WALL” Graphics Competition. Her works, whose characters draw on the example of her own grandfather, won kudos for their overflowing power. At the “1_WALL” group exhibition, she had valiantly dared to compete with her three-dimensional works with moving parts, and although they were less than perfect, they attracted the judges’ attention for their “rare sense of coloring,” “the tremendous energy that lifts the spirits of whoever views them,” and “the charming way she goes her own way, a maverick in the crowd.” And so she came away with the Grand Prize, a tribute to what the judges saw as Sakakibara’s great potential.
Sakakibara says she draws things that are comical and perhaps silly (that being the meaning of “baka”) but, to her, quite dear. Using oil-based marker pens on vividly colorful thick paper, the result may be her “Menko” (playing cards) cut-outs or her clever “Oden Dragon” (veggie dragon) linking up the ingredients of a favorite food. Her “Yogajijii” (yoga grandpa) with moving parts connected using eyelets, appears cramped inside its packaging. “Fundoshi,” depicting an old gent in a traditional loin cloth, is drawn suggestively with bold colors and thin lines. Such is the unique aura given off by Sakakibara’s works. She creates in a free and easy way, the same way she loved to play with dolls and make drawings from the time she was a child. Her very first solo exhibition will surely touch the heartstrings of everyone who comes to experience her powerful, precious world.
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Midori Sakakibara
Born in Tokachi, Hokkaido in 1985. Graduated from Tama Art University with a concentration in Graphi...
Message from the Artist
My goal is to enjoy life. And to make life enjoyable, I make a point of thinking about fun things. My works on exhibit are part of my musings. When people enjoy my works, my life becomes all the more enjoyable, and then I become eager to make more works. My works may have meaning, and then again maybe they don’t. But if someone looks at one of my works and it puts a smile on their face, then that work has meaning. And those are the kinds of works I want to keep making. So, everybody, please look at my beloved baka works to your heart’s content!
Midori Sakakibara
Message from one of the Judges
Ms. Sakakibara diligently creates one work after another, her inspiration being the notion that what’s enjoyable to her must surely be enjoyable to others too. She’s simply happy whenever a neighbor or a friend or anyone close to her enjoys what she creates. Questions about whether what she does is art or design don’t concern her. So, Midori Sakakibara, pack your joy and your power and your muscles in your bag and head out into the city. Today, tomorrow, and then the day after too, draw what you see and give people strength. Now more than ever, the world needs you.
Tatsuya Ariyama (art director / graphic designer)
The 3rd “1_WALL” Graphics Exhibition
August 23 (Mon) – September 16 (Thu), 2010
Final judging session: September 2 (Thu), 2010 (open to the public)
Midori Sakakibara was chosen to receive the Grand Prize by the following panel of judges:
Tatsuya Ariyama (art director / graphic designer)
Naomi Hirabayashi (art director / graphic designer)
Hisashi Narita (art director / artist)
Ichio Otsuka (illustrator / art director)
Kenjiro Sano (art director)
For information about the 3rd “1_WALL” Graphics Exhibition, click here.
