In August, ginza graphic gallery (ggg) will host an exhibition of the works of GROOVISIONS, a design studio that has continuously generated great interest in creative and cultural circles both in Japan and abroad.
Since its launch in 1993, GROOVISIONS has perpetually traversed the boundaries between art and design with light-footed ease. Through the years they have produced a formidable number of design works, all in keeping with the studio’s quest for new possibilities in artistic expression.
The exhibition will bring together roughly 200 of GROOVISIONS' representative design works, spanning a wide spectrum, that have been exhibited at contemporary art and other exhibitions worldwide. These include their original character “chappie,” numerous graphic works for the music industry, packaging designs, works of magazine art direction and editorial design, motion graphics, brand VI, CI, etc. Also on exhibit will be a new experimental installation created specially for this show.
［gggg］ is sure to be a powerful exhibition offering visitors a first-hand feeling for GROOVISIONS' unique originality, universality, innovative freshness and humor. A volume in the gggBooks series (No.98) dedicated to GROOVISIONS will also be published in conjunction with the exhibition.
About Groovisions
Formed in Kyoto in 1993. GROOVISIONS has become famous by making films and graphics for a Japanese pop group, PIZZICATO FIVE. After moving to Tokyo in 1997, they became active as a design studio involved in a variety of media and working for diverse clients, with a focus on graphic and video production.
Major projects undertaken by them have included producing CD packaging and music videos for groups such as RIP SLYME and FPM (Fantastic Plastic Machine); visual identity and signage for shops such as “100%ChocolateCafe.” and THE NISHI-NIPPON CITY BANK (“ALL IN ONE” campaign); packaging for Japan Tobacco's cigarettes,CASTER; art direction and editorial design for magazines such as Kokokuhihyo and Metro Min.; directing window displays for Maison Hermès; art directing exhibitions such as “DO MORE WITH LESS: 40 YEARS OF THE NORTH FACE” and “Eames Design Charles & Ray Eames ”; and the production of motion graphics for NIKE, Expo 2005 Aichi Japan and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. In 1994 they created an original character known as “chappie.” In 1999 chappie released three singles and an album. The character has served as brand images for Takashimaya Kyoto, NTT DOCOMO, FUJIFILM and JTB.
Major publications to date include groovisions van lines (Korinsha Press), GRV2000 (BNN), GAS BOOK 01: GROOVISIONS (Gas As Interface, BNN), GAS DVD “GRV1778” (Gas As Interface, Nowonmedia) , “GRV2283, GRV2284” (monitor), ©COPYRIGHT and GROOVISIONS MGR (Parco).
Major exhibitions include “GROOVISIONS RHYTHM ACE” (Shibuya Parco, Tokyo), “©COPYRIGHT” (Parco Gallery, Tokyo), “GROOVISIONS in Paris” (collete, Paris), “Superflat” (Parco Gallery, Tokyo and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles), “Coloriage” (Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris), “SOMEWHERE BETTER THAN THIS PLACE” (Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati), “GROOVISIONS HKG” (Hong Kong Arts Centre), “GROOVISIONS SIN” (National Museum of Singapore) and “GROOVISIONS FUK” (MITSUBISHI-JISHO ARTIUM, Fukuoka).
