21_21 DESIGN SIGHT is pleased to announce the “Ikko Tanaka and Future/Past/East/West of Design” Exhibition starting September 21.

Ikko Tanaka (1930-2002), one of Japan’s most prominent figures in graphic design, was also an art director who focused on what he himself referred to as “the Future/Past/East/West of Design,” as in carrying on tradition, looking into the future, and exchanging with countries to the East and West. Tanaka with his deep knowledge of Japanese civic culture such as Rimpa, Ukiyoe, and other traditional performing arts, depicted these elements as visual expression in his modern creations to influence broad and expansive audiences of his generation from designers and business people to entire societies. Beyond graphics, the fruits of his artistic work in publishing and editorial design, gallery presentations, product planning, and point of view toward tea ceremony have established their place firmly in our society today.

This exhibition rooted in Future/Past/East/West of Design by Ikko Tanaka will provide a colorful look into how ideas expand and expressions find their landing space. We will study the vast numbers of works and documents left by the designer, positioning him as a promoter of visual expression unique to Japan, and introduce his work, mostly in the area of graphic design - the core of his artistic activities - along with original drawings, photographs, and other valuable archival materials. Through this, we will dive deeper into the life and work of Ikko Tanaka to explore how his ideas on design were executed and presented.

This exhibition which focuses on the creative life of Ikko Tanaka, a designer who lived gracefully through the turbulent post-war era, is filled with messages for today's society, and holds promise of becoming a guiding hope for the creations of tomorrow.