Breaking 27 Years of Silence with a New Exhibition! An Interview with Those Involved in the "Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition" | MEDICOM TOY
MEDICOM TOY
Kazuo Umezu: A Master Artist Who Stunned with His Iconic Works 'I Am Shingo,' 'Drifting Classroom,' and '14-Year-Old'
The "Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition" will be held at Tokyo City View from Friday, January 28, to Friday, March 25, 2022. A highlight is the series of 101 paintings, a sequel to 'I Am Shingo' created in the 1980s. We spoke with those involved about the exhibition's various attractions that express the world of Kazuo Umezu.
Text by SHINNO Kunihiko | Edit by TOMIYAMA Eizaburo
Kazuo Umezu Speaks and Draws: The Fate of "Love" ~Shingo's Story [Chapter 2]~
The "Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition," held at Tokyo City View from Friday, January 28, to Friday, March 25, 2022, will feature the premiere of 'ZOKU-SHINGO: The Little Robot Shingo Museum,' his first new work in 27 years since his serialization of '14-Year-Old' in the 1990s. This new work, a sequel to 'I Am Shingo' from the 1980s and a parallel vision transcending time and space, differs from manga in that it has no panel divisions and can be appreciated as 101 individual acrylic paintings.
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Commentary on 'I Am Shingo' (from the official website)
With the help of 12-year-old Satoru and Marin, an industrial robot gains consciousness and eventually names itself "Shingo" and begins to move. The love between Satoru and Marin, torn apart by adults. Shingo's consciousness, with the purpose of conveying their unchanging feelings to each other, expands infinitely, eventually reaching a divine level... (Serialized 1982-1986)
Furthermore, the exhibition features installations by three contemporary artists based on Umezu's works, presenting an unprecedented exhibition that expresses the world of Kazuo Umezu as an artist beyond the confines of a manga creator. To commemorate the exhibition, attractive limited-edition merchandise and collaboration menu items will be available. MEDICOM TOY will release the "BE@RBRICK Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition 100% & 400%" using the exhibition's main visual. Here, we present comments from members of the Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition Production Committee, who gave us an overview of the entire exhibition.
Witness the Historic Moment: A Turning Point for Manga and Art!
—Could you tell us about the concept behind the 'Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition'?
Kazuo Umezu has long produced numerous outstanding manga works that have left their mark on history. His unique body of work consistently displays a visionary worldview and hallucinatory visions that seem to predict various events occurring on Earth today. This is the artistic merit of Umezu's works and what makes Kazuo Umezu an artist, not just a manga creator. This exhibition expresses the "World of Kazuo Umezu," rich in unparalleled artistry, through three representative works that showcase Kazuo Umezu's forward-looking and prophetic visions. Furthermore, the main highlight of this exhibition is the series of 101 paintings, 'ZOKU-SHINGO: The Little Robot Shingo Museum,' created by artist Kazuo Umezu after a 27-year hiatus, which took four years to complete.
—What were Mr. Umezu's thoughts on the occasion of the exhibition?
'Through this exhibition, the drama of manga and the rich sensibility of art become one. It is a turning point for manga and art, and I urge everyone to witness this historic moment. In particular, the new work 'ZOKU-SHINGO: The Little Robot Shingo Museum,' created after 27 years, is a stunning piece that will captivate you at first sight.'
—Regarding the highly anticipated new work 'ZOKU-SHINGO: The Little Robot Shingo Museum,' could you tell us about the backstory of its completion and its overall concept?
First, Kazuo Umezu had the idea that 'this exhibition should not be a retrospective of my manga career, but something that connects to the future.' As we developed the concept, the award of the Heritage Prize at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France in 2018 for 'I Am Shingo' also served as a catalyst, naturally leading me to remember that he began drawing a series of paintings as a sequel to 'I Am Shingo.'
Isn't it a tremendous miracle to be able to see a new work by Kazuo Umezu in 2022, and in its original form no less! In fact, when the preliminary sketches for the new work were completed, we held a reveal party for those involved, and many were moved to tears.
We hope that everyone who sees the new work at the venue will first immerse themselves in the sheer fortune of it, and then, without overthinking, dive wholeheartedly into the world of Kazuo Umezu. Each piece is a powerful painting, and at the same time, they form a single manga work across 101 pieces, so we hope you will fully enjoy the carefully crafted narrative flow. The framing, with red borders and green mats, was also devised by Kazuo Umezu.
Additionally, the "preliminary sketches" displayed within Yuma Tomiyasu's installation present a completely different world from the colored versions, making both essential viewing.
—At this major exhibition, three contemporary artists—exonemo (art unit by Keisuke Teshima and Yae Akaiwa), Yuma Tomiyasu, and Tomoko Konoike—are presenting installations themed around Umezu's works. Could you tell us about the background of their selection and the art they are presenting?
The three artists participating in this exhibition were selected by art critic Noi Sawaragi, who has been involved as an advisor since the planning stages of this exhibition, and exhibition curator Kenji Kubota, as artists capable of deeply interpreting Kazuo Umezu's works and expressing his worldview through space and art.
exonemo, who explores the relationship between technology and humanity, will focus on 'I Am Shingo.' Tomoko Konoike, who weaves various narratives through painting, will focus on '14-Year-Old.' Yuma Tomiyasu, who spatializes the boundary between reality and unreality, will use the preliminary sketches (pencil drawings) of Kazuo Umezu's new work 'ZOKU-SHINGO: The Little Robot Shingo Museum' as motifs, each expressing their respect for Kazuo Umezu through their unique worldviews.
exonemo (Photo by Niko)
Tomoko Konoike (Photo: Ken Nagare)
Yuma Tomiyasu
—What significance does holding the exhibition at Tokyo City View (52nd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower) hold?
Given that the new work is a sequel to 'I Am Shingo,' and that exonemo's work is themed around 'I Am Shingo,' we believe there is no more fitting venue than Tokyo City View, where one can see the Tokyo Tower. The Tokyo Tower is a crucial theme in 'I Am Shingo,' along with the messages 'Jump from the top of 333 meters' and 'Love.'
—Could you tell us about the collaboration merchandise and cafe menu items available at the venue?
A wide array of merchandise will be available, including limited-edition clear files, postcards, pin badges, keychains, tenugui (hand towels), mamezara (small plates), T-shirts, and bags, featuring designs not only from Kazuo Umezu's representative works but also from his new work 'ZOKU-SHINGO.'
In particular, the "Umezu's Art Book" edited by Kazuo Umezu himself, featuring new artwork, is a must-have item for fans. Additionally, we have prepared items recommended for women, such as masking tape, notepads, and handkerchiefs designed by art director Yuuni Yoshida.
The collaboration cafe, named 'UMEZZ CAFE,' offers a menu that is both visually appealing and delicious. The "Umezu House Parfait," inspired by Kazuo Umezu's residence, is both cute and generously portioned. From the masterpiece 'Baptism,' we have a slightly mature-themed soda topped with a brain-shaped milk pudding, among other menu items with concepts that match the works, totaling six items. Please visit and enjoy them.
—MEDICOM TOY will also release a BE@RBRICK using the new artwork. Could you share Mr. Umezu's thoughts on this BE@RBRICK?
'The faces of the boy and girl placed on the face look like eyes and a mouth, which is interesting. It's a fitting product for the "Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition."
Kazuo Umezu has always said that his motivation for creating is 'to do what no one else is doing! That's all.' His attitude and passion for creating works, which remain unchanged, feel like a great message in itself. There must be something that resonates with everyone. In his new work, Umezu challenged himself with acrylic gouache for the first time. The pencil sketches also employ new techniques different from manga. Kazuo Umezu, who navigates this world full of anxieties with overwhelming individual power and creativity, should inspire courage in us. Leap from the Pinnacle of Manga to the Apex of Art! Please come to the venue to witness that moment!
Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition Dates | Friday, January 28, 2022 - Friday, March 25, 2022 *57 days | Open daily during the exhibition period Opening Hours | 10:00 - 22:00 (Last admission 21:30) Venue | Tokyo City View (6-10-1 Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 52F, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Organizers | Tokyo City View, Kazuo Umezu (Art) Exhibition Production Committee Inquiries | 03-6406-6652 (Tokyo City View) https://umezz-art.jp/
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