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February 5, 2015
ART | The 16th "Society of Food and Art" Exhibition: Mitsuo Shindo's "This is Not Calligraphy!"
ART | The 16th "Food and Art Salon"
Mitsuo Shindo Exhibition: "This Is Not Calligraphy!"
The "Food and Art Salon," an art gathering for adults, is held at Restaurant-I, a restaurant helmed by French chef Keisuke Matsushima. For its 16th installment, a talk event featuring art director Mitsuo Shindo and Chef Matsushima, titled "This Is Not Calligraphy!," will take place.
Text by KUROMIYA Yuzu
An Innocent Vision That Breaks Conventions
The "Food and Art Salon" invites artists of note to offer an evening of sophisticated enjoyment for adults, featuring stimulating conversation and exquisite cuisine by Chef Keisuke Matsushima. The 16th event presents the Mitsuo Shindo exhibition, "This Is Not Calligraphy!."
Even if you don't know the name Mitsuo Shindo, you've likely seen his work on CD covers. He is the charismatic art director who has designed approximately 1,000 album covers for artists ranging from the influential "Shibuya-kei" scene, including Flipper's Guitar and Pizzicato Five, to major acts like Yumi Matsutoya and Mr. Children. It's no exaggeration to say that his career is synonymous with the evolution of Japanese CD jacket design. His talent extends beyond album art to music videos, films, commercials, and concert direction.
"Beauty"
"Pray"
This exhibition features works that Shindo himself describes as embodying his very essence. The style, using ink and brush on Japanese paper, might lead one to call it "calligraphy." However, Shindo has titled this exhibition "This Is Not Calligraphy! (CECI N'EST PAS UNE CALLIGRAPHIE)," a phrase echoing René Magritte's famous painting "The Treachery of Images" (Ceci n'est pas une pipe). Despite this provocative title, his works convey a disarmingly innocent impression. Perhaps his "innocent" sensibility, honed through a long and distinguished career in design, is precisely what allows him to create these pieces under the banner of "This Is Not Calligraphy!" By stepping outside the conventional definition of "calligraphy," the exhibition offers a space to engage with his work freely.
Enjoy exquisite food and drinks while listening to a creative talk between Mitsuo Shindo, who has designed countless iconic album covers over nearly 30 years, and world-renowned French chef Keisuke Matsushima.──Embark on a one-night-only art salon that stimulates the senses, where you can encounter the new expressions of a master of the design world.
Mitsuo Shindo
Born in Tokyo in 1948. Japanese art director and video director. After designing the jacket for Yumi Matsutoya, he went on to create approximately 1,000 album covers for artists including Pizzicato Five, Flipper's Guitar, Cornelius, Mr. Children, and Southern All Stars. He has also directed numerous music videos, winning the SPACE SHOWER MVA BEST OF THE YEAR in 2003 for Keisuke Kuwata's "Tokyo." His work spans a wide range, including commercial directing, stage production, and film directing.
The 16th "Food and Art Salon": Mitsuo Shindo Exhibition "This Is Not Calligraphy!"
Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: Doors open 19:00, Dinner 19:45, Talk Show 20:15–20:45
Venue: Restaurant-I
1F Park Court, 1-4-20 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Capacity: 80 people (Reservations required)
Participation Fee: ¥8,000 (Standing buffet course with food and drinks included)
Dress Code: Japanese accessories
Ideally, wear a kimono, but feel free to participate with any Japanese accessory, whether it's geta sandals, zori sandals, a kanzashi hairpin, or mizuhiki cord!
Exhibition Period at Restaurant: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 – Late June
Number of Works Exhibited: Approx. 20
Organizer: +ART CLUB www.plusartclub.com
Cooperation: Mitsuo Shindo Office http://www.snd320.net/