Kamekura Yūsaku

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Kamekura Yūsaku, 1952

Kamekura Yūsaku ( Japanese 亀 倉 雄 策 ; born April 6, 1915 in Yoshida (today: Tsubame ), Niigata Prefecture , Japan ; † May 11, 1997 in Chūō , Tokyo ) was a Japanese graphic and graphic designer specializing in commercial art and known internationally for his poster art .

life and work

Kamekura Yūsaku studied architecture and the principles of constructivism at the Institute for New Architecture and Industrial Arts ( 新 建築 工 芸 学院 , shin-kenchiku kōgei gakuin ) in Tokyo, a private institute founded by Kawakita Renshichirō with the aim of introducing design from 1935 to 1938 -Theories of the Bauhaus in Japan. Kamekura worked from 1938 for KK Nihon Kōbō (English Japan Studio ; from 1939: Kokusai Hōdō Kōgei KK ) in Tokyo.

From 1938 Kamekura was the art director of a number of Japanese magazines, including “Nippon”, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. In 1951 he helped found the Japan Advertising Arts Club , which was dedicated to the social recognition of the profession of graphic designer. In 1955 he took part in the "Graphic 55" exhibition, together with Hara Hiromu , Paul Rand and others.

In 1956, Kamekura received an award from the Japan Advertising Arts Club for a poster calling for the peaceful uses of nuclear power . He co-founded the Nippon Design Center in Tokyo in 1960 with Ikkō Tanaka .

Outside of Japan, his most famous designs are the posters for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo and for the Expo '70 in Osaka . Exhibitions of his works took place in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (1953) and in Chicago (1956). In 1964, his works were shown in the graphics department at documenta III in Kassel .

In 1978 he became chairman of the newly formed Japan Graphic Designers Association (JAGDA for short), which publishes richly illustrated books on the work of Japanese graphic designers every year. For his exhibition " The Universe of Curved and Straight Lines: Designs by Kamekura Yūsaku " he received the 25th Mainichi Arts Award in 1983. In the same year he was also awarded for his services to bring Japanese design to an international level with the Asahi Prize awarded.

He was one of the pioneers of Japanese graphic design who was instrumental in establishing graphic design as an essential factor in modern society, art and culture. With his work, he has contributed to the reputation of modern Japanese graphic design internationally. He designed logos , posters, books, magazines, company symbols, street signs and packaging. His work is characterized by its dynamism, the special composition of technical know-how and visual inventiveness. He used photography and colors in conjunction with geometric elements. He has been a successful teacher, lecturer and writer and has received numerous awards for his designs in Japan and internationally. His works are part of important public collections, for example in the Museum of Modern Art in New York or in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam .

Literature and Sources

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c 亀 倉 雄 策 . In: ブ リ タ ニ カ 国際 大 百科 事 典 小 項目 事 典 at kotobank.jp. Retrieved December 3, 2014 (Japanese).
Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . Thus, Kamekura is the family name, Yūsaku the first name.
personal data
SURNAME Kamekura Yūsaku
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 亀 倉 雄 策 (Japanese)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Japanese graphic artist
DATE OF BIRTH April 6, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Yoshida (now: Tsubame ), Niigata Prefecture , Japan
DATE OF DEATH May 11, 1997
Place of death Tokyo