<<Back Page Next Page>> Following the privatization of Tokyo International Forum in July, a complete overhaul was made of the sign posting. With the concept of "toward FORUM", the reformed Forum was advertised with vividly colored posters. The general direction of this campaign was held by Kijyuro Yahagi who has created countless outstanding pieces in a wide variety of genres, not only as a graphic designer but also as a photographer, architect, critic and editor. In this edition, we ask what lies behind the concept for the Tokyo International Forum and his thoughts and comments for his creative work. ■Towards a radiant, dynamic "fluidity" "Toward" was used as the conceptual word for the new Tokyo International Forum as the word embodies my wish for the Forum to become a radiant fluidity, magnetically attracting crowds of people. In order for the Tokyo International Forum to become such a radiant fluidity, it required for us to create a place where lively, dynamic and fun-loving people would be attracted. "In the past, for the general public, I think that it was difficult to pin down what the Tokyo International Forum was apart from a place where concerts, seminars, exhibitions, etc were held. I believe that not only should the Tokyo International Forum be a place from which dynamic vitality is radiated, but also a place at which people can feel that powerful vibe and to be moved by it: to be an "influential place". The importance of such an interaction between the inward and outward flow of vibes was the idea behind the conceptual word "toward". The people who are attracted and drawn into the Tokyo International Forum by its radiance, having visited are themselves filled with the same dynamism and then return to their normal lives. I hope that the Forum can become a place that people wish to visit again and again. ■Expressing vitality in cheerful, fun, lively colors "To express "vitality" visually and to make people feel that they would like to visit the Tokyo International Forum, I chose vivid, lively colors. The 12 colors chosen were the colors which embody the lively Japanese matsuri festivities. The colored paper where actually pasted on to the posters. Rather than printing these different colors on to the posters, this created a movement within the posters themselves, as they continuously showed different expressions. This also links in with the "fluidity" concept. "The sign posting and our concept behind this project are the same. In the hope that the Tokyo International Forum is a lively and active place, cheerful, fun and vivid colors were used to attract people to visit the Forum. The colors were ones that cannot be mistaken by people of any age, but which, when placed together, still looked attractive. The sign posting not only serves its purpose of allowing the visitor to find their destination simply by following the signs by eye but, in addition, I wanted it to make the Forum a fun place to be strolling through, even on a rainy or winter day. "Having seen the sign posting and posters put up throughout the Tokyo International Forum, I believe that it has brightened its atmosphere. It makes my job very worthwhile when I receive comments from visitors that the Forum has become a place which is "fun", "easy-to-use" and "uplifting". ■A greater presence as an "influential place" "The Tokyo International Forum is situated in the perfect location and can be used for a wide variety of functions. I believe that it would be such a waste if the Forum was not radiant. "Spaciousness is not something that can only be measured physically. A small space can feel 3 or 4 times its actually size, and a large space a lot smaller than it actually is. Space is an image held by the beholder. If we endeavor to create a Tokyo International Forum which is larger, then we would be able to make something which is bigger and brighter. "I hope that the Tokyo International Forum helps to awakens buried curiosities and to have a greater presence as an "influential place". I believe that such people will then start to attract each other. ■A magnetic place attracting people who want to "do it here" "When I am to hold exhibitions or events of my own, I want to know whether a place has something that attracts people to it. I believe that most artists and creators, not only myself, are sensitive in picking up such vibes. In addition, I think that the general public also have such sensors. The old Tokyo International Forum has been criticized for sending out reserved messages or, rather, to have been too self-controlled. The Forum could not be a magnetic place when it was itself so reserved. Crowds visiting the Tokyo International Forum, returning to their own lives, and then wanting to visit again. It is this circulation that forms the sense of "influential place" for the Forum. In addition, what is most important is whether the place creates a sense of wanting to do something there, whether it has something magnetic. My wish is for the Tokyo International Forum to become such a place. ■Linking different genres, continuing to create something new "The key to my creative activities is to keep in sync with the "boy" within me. This encompasses my wish to continuously retain a sense of curiosity. "As an example, it is not unusual for a graduate of the Technical University of Milan to be involved in designing, architecture and editing. The involvement in these diverse fields all stem from curiosity. In Japan, it is natural progress to become more and more specialized and for it to be difficult to break out and work in a different genre. But for me, it is not unusual for the different genres to be linked. I was drawn into the field of design from another genre, but I have also worked as an architect, a writer and a photographer. The movement between these different genres has stemmed, as is often seen abroad, from curiosity. "I hope that the different genres of my work continue to link together to lead me to work of interest. I am intending to hold a variety of exhibitions in the near future. In October, I will be exhibiting the experimental results of handmade washi paper used to print on ink-jet printers. In addition, I am also planning to hold a photographic exhibition of tribes in Central America. I plan to exhibit the photographs taken when I came into contact with a tribe that made woven products, together with photographs from Guatemala, Mexico and Panama." (text:Yukiko Komine, photo:Bungo Saito) Kijyuro Yahagi Architect, graphic designer, photographer, artist, critic, publisher. Born in Yamagata in 1952. In 2002, exhibited "Shishoku, Shidan, Soshite Manazashino Kioku", currently exhibiting a photographic exhibition "HIDDEN JAPAN". In 1999, won a prize in the Idrascaro Park International Idea Competition run by the City of Milan. In 1988, he was the winner of the 1st Hara Hiroshi Award. In 1990, won the Gold Medal in the International Poster Biennale in Warsaw. In 1995, won the Kuwazawa Award. In 1995, won an award for Book Design in Kodansha's Cultural Publication Award. In 1999, won the Katsumi Masaru Award. Publications include: "Tachushin no Shikou" (Seibundo Shinkosha, 2001), "Heimen Kukan Shintai" (Seibundo Shinkosha, 2000), a collection of his work in "Yahagi Kijyuro � Passage" (Asahi Shimbunsha, 1999), "VISIONS OF JAPAN" (1991), "HIDDEN JAPAN" (1993). ● "The Encounter of Washi and Ink-Jet" -Interior Artworks- Thursday 23rd October 2003~Tuesday 28th October 2003 Living Design Center OZONE Living Design Gallery (6F) TEL: 03-5322-6500 (General)