The Nara Prefectural Museum of Art is hosting the "Special Exhibition: The Design World of Ikko Tanaka - A Trajectory of Creativity" until Wednesday, March 20th (national holiday). I couldn't help but regret missing the 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT special exhibition "Tanaka Ikko and the Front, Back, Left and Right of Design," which ran for four months until last month, so I decided to head to Nara on a whim during the long weekend. It's been a few years since I last visited Nara, but whenever I come, I always feel like I'm back in elementary school. This time, too, I didn't plan my schedule in advance, so I arrived late in the morning. I saw the Tokondo Hall, five-story pagoda, and Ashura statue at Kofuku-ji Temple, gazed up at the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple, had a smoke at Nigatsu-do Hall, and then checked out the exhibition at the art museum. It was a fulfilling day. Now as an adult, I can snack on persimmon leaf sushi and a drink at Hiramune in Naramachi, which adds a bonus to my holiday excursion. That "Tanaka Ikko" exhibition. For the generation imprinted by Tanaka Ikko and Yokoo Tadanori, posters from every era are like textbooks. Even on a holiday, it's not too crowded, and it's truly a luxury to be able to view the works while overlooking the entire space.
Because Tanaka Ikko was originally from Nara, the museum's collection includes 182 pieces of graphic art and 105 posters. While this exhibition showcases his most representative works, they represent only a small portion of Tanaka's vast body of work. What was fascinating was the unprecedented exhibition of his early sketches, drawings, oil paintings, and even calligraphy from his elementary school days. Discovered in his home after his death, the collection included 13 original costume designs.
These design drawings were created when Tanaka graduated from the Kyoto Municipal College of Art and worked in the design department at Kanebo. It was during this exhibition that I learned for the first time that Tanaka, exposed to the latest fashion in Paris, dreamed of becoming a designer. The design drawings themselves were created over a two-year period leading up to Tanaka's layoff in the summer of 1952. Through Professor Tanaka Chiyo's archives, I learned that Kanebo was purchasing haute couture patterns and fabrics from Dior during this time. 1951 was the year Hanae Mori opened her dressmaking shop, "Hiyoshiya," in Shinjuku. Understanding this background changes the way you view the posters and other works. At the time, Dior was exhibiting work at the pinnacle of Parisian fashion. I wonder how Ikko viewed Dior's "New Look," which he experienced firsthand. While this exhibition focused on the influence of "Gutai Art" after Tanaka left Kanebo, I personally find Dior's influence on Tanaka more intriguing. The influence of Dior is clearly apparent in the poster designs. While fashion-related works were not featured prominently this time, Tanaka Ikko's graphics in the Japanese fashion scene were extremely diverse. These graphics have had a profound impact on Japanese fashion. With that in mind, I can't help but feel sorry for missing the exhibition "Tanaka Ikko and the Front, Back, Left and Right of Design," directed by Kazuko Koike.
[Exhibition Information]
"Special Exhibition: The Design World of Tanaka Ikko - The Path of Creativity"
Dates: Saturday, January 12, 2013 to Wednesday, March 20, 2013 (National Holiday)
Venue: Nara Prefectural Museum of Art
Address: 10-6 Noborioji-cho, Nara City
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (until 19:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Adults 800 yen / University and High School Students 600 yen / Junior and Elementary School Students 400 yen
Closed: Mondays (closed on February 12th)
