Ikko Tanaka
- Graphic Design
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Contents
Overview
Ikko Tanaka (1930–2002) was a Japanese graphic designer whose work included posters, logos and book design.1,2,3,4 Pacific Asia Museum described poster design as central to his practice and as a way to communicate with a broad audience.2
At a glanceSourced facts
At a glance
Design work
Tanaka designed posters for Sankei Kanze Noh performances in 1958 and 1961; the 1961 poster for the eighth performance was credited to The Sankei Shimbun and Osaka Shimbun.3 A listed 1981 poster, Nihon Buyo, was for the UCLA Asian Performing Arts Institute.3 His 1980 work included the “Wake Atte, Yasui” advertisement and a MUJI logotype for Seiyu.3
Other logo projects included the Tsukuba exposition logo in 1981, the Saison Group logo in 1982, the ginza graphic gallery logo for the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion in 1986, and a logo for LOFT.3 Curator Corinna Rösner characterized Tanaka’s style as combining abstraction with contrasting elements.5 Kazuko Koike, director of a 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT exhibition, described Tanaka’s work as connecting Rinpa, Ukiyo-e and traditional theatre with contemporary design.6
Koike also reported that Tanaka believed his presence lay at the intersection of time and East and West, and that he held a solo exhibition titled “The Crossroads of Design.”6 Koike’s account presents Tanaka as holding that design engages with society and history, rather than being only deskwork or self-expression; this account is disputed in the source record.6
Exhibitions and archive
A Pacific Asia Museum exhibition presented more than 30 posters from its permanent collection.2 Die Neue Sammlung showed a selection of Tanaka’s face-focused posters at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne in an exhibition titled Faces.5 The Japan Times reported that a 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT exhibition featured Tanaka’s book work, including the cover for The Japanese Annual of Illustration ’68.4
After Tanaka’s death, his sister legally took over his office; his works and materials remained untouched for almost six years before the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion took them over.3 Hideyuki Kido reported that 55,000 items had been catalogued by June 2019 and estimated that the final total would be at least twice that number.3
Mister Tanaka continued to challenge the formation of new value at all times, and I would like many people to know the appearance and enjoyment of design by expressing that powerful work in the form of clothes
In focusVisual reference
Life, work and milestones from this entry. Select a detail to see its source.
Profile context
Ikko Tanaka
Overview
Design work
Exhibitions and archive
Sources
- 1ULAN Full Record Display (Getty Research)getty.edu · Universities & libraries · Tier B
- 2Ikko Style: The Graphic Art of Ikko Tanaka - Pacific Asia MuseumPacific Asia Museum · Universities & libraries · Tier B
- 3Ikko Tanaka｜NPO Platform for Architectural Thinking｜PLATnpo-plat.org · Other · Tier C
- 4Ikko Tanaka’s designs live onThe Japan Times · News · Tier C
- 5Facing Ikko Tanaka at the Pinakothek der Moderne – TLmagazineTLmagazine · Other · Tier C
- 621_21 DESIGN SIGHT | "Ikko Tanaka and Future/Past/East/West of Design" | AboutAbout · Other · Tier C
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