history of vfx
Today, I will introduce Ikko Tanaka’s design works.
Ikko Tanaka was a well-known Japanese graphic designer.
Tanaka was a master of geometry in graphic design, logo design and the use of Japanese colors. His designs mix western and eastern aesthetics.
During his lifetime, Ikko Tanaka published several books, including Graphic Designs of Japan, The Culture of Anima,
The Work of IKKO Tanaka, and 1991 Ikko Tanaka POSTERS, and so on.
Ikko Tanaka worked at the Sankei Shinbun, Nippon Design
Center, and later he created his first design studio in Tokyo, in 1963.
He is also the first art director of Muji. He worked as Muji's art director until 2001.
Ikko Tanaka received many awards from Japan and US.
Almost all of the Noh series posters incorporate Tanaka’s design style. I will use the Noh poster as an example to introduce his design style.
Noh or Nogaku is Japan's first national opera theater; it is known for its show performances at various temples and shrines. An important feature, which is different from the other Noh plays, is that he actors playing the characters wear masks.
Tanaka created his own unique artistic features in Noh poster. Now, I want to analyze Tanaka’s poster of a Noh figure: the geometry grid system, the Ma concept, and the ethnic relations of the Noh poster.
1.
Noh figure: Pure and Simplicity
In most of Tannaka’s Noh posters, he used the traditional Japanese Noh mask figure as a main graphic element. For example in "The 12th Sankei Kanze," He used Noh play Death woman’s Noh mask as the principal surface, which is arranged in the center of the poster, to create a strong visual impact. He color corrected the Noh mask, removed the mid-tones, and the image became simpler, and more eye catching. The rest of the black and white picture conveys the simple and primitive sense. The Noh Character, “Empress Yang,” is very concise; he removed completely all of the details to create a pure white face. Shades of
Ikko Tanaka was a well-known Japanese graphic designer.
Tanaka was a master of geometry in graphic design, logo design and the use of Japanese colors. His designs mix western and eastern aesthetics.
During his lifetime, Ikko Tanaka published several books, including Graphic Designs of Japan, The Culture of Anima,
The Work of IKKO Tanaka, and 1991 Ikko Tanaka POSTERS, and so on.
Ikko Tanaka worked at the Sankei Shinbun, Nippon Design
Center, and later he created his first design studio in Tokyo, in 1963.
He is also the first art director of Muji. He worked as Muji's art director until 2001.
Ikko Tanaka received many awards from Japan and US.
Almost all of the Noh series posters incorporate Tanaka’s design style. I will use the Noh poster as an example to introduce his design style.
Noh or Nogaku is Japan's first national opera theater; it is known for its show performances at various temples and shrines. An important feature, which is different from the other Noh plays, is that he actors playing the characters wear masks.
Tanaka created his own unique artistic features in Noh poster. Now, I want to analyze Tanaka’s poster of a Noh figure: the geometry grid system, the Ma concept, and the ethnic relations of the Noh poster.
1.
Noh figure: Pure and Simplicity
In most of Tannaka’s Noh posters, he used the traditional Japanese Noh mask figure as a main graphic element. For example in "The 12th Sankei Kanze," He used Noh play Death woman’s Noh mask as the principal surface, which is arranged in the center of the poster, to create a strong visual impact. He color corrected the Noh mask, removed the mid-tones, and the image became simpler, and more eye catching. The rest of the black and white picture conveys the simple and primitive sense. The Noh Character, “Empress Yang,” is very concise; he removed completely all of the details to create a pure white face. Shades of