The 56th Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition, presented by Kanagawa Prefecture, a land of culture and art.

The Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition, which started in 1965 and is now in its 56th year, is one of the largest open-call art exhibitions in Japan.
Last year, the event was unfortunately canceled due to the spread of COVID-19, but this year it was held with thorough preventative measures in place.
This art exhibition, with its long history and proven track record, once again attracted many wonderful works from all over the country this year.
This art exhibition is highly regarded as a stepping stone for young artists, as many past winners have gone on to achieve great success after winning awards. Entries are accepted in four categories: two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, crafts, calligraphy, and photography. This time, we interviewed the four winners of the grand prize in each category.
We hope to convey the passion for their work and their love for art that the award winners have so enthusiastically shared with us.

≪Planar and Solid Art Category≫ Asako Ishizaki

Grand Prize Winning Work
Title: "View from the Side"

Congratulations on winning the grand prize! Please tell us how you feel right now.
I was quite surprised. I was very happy, and it boosted my confidence in my work.

Please tell us what inspired you to choose the path of becoming an artist.
I enjoy working with my hands. I find fulfillment in the process of turning ideas into tangible forms.

What motivated you to apply this time?
My work consists of simple sculptural elements, such as surface treatment and arrangement balance, which are difficult to convey through photographs. However, I thought that having the actual work judged would make it easier to communicate my work.

Please tell us about the concept behind your work and the thoughts you put into its creation.
As the title "Side View" suggests, I created this piece with an awareness of how each surface looks different from various angles. The ridgelines and overlapping lines I perceive when viewing landscapes are reflected in the artwork.

Please tell me what you focused on the most and what you struggled with the most.
We focused on details such as attaching casters to the base to emphasize mobility, and bending aluminum plates so that the appearance changes depending on the viewing angle.
The most challenging part was the L-shaped base. To express the concept simply, it took a considerable amount of time to apply a smooth surface treatment to the wood.

What kind of activities do you plan to pursue going forward, using this award as motivation? Please tell us about your future aspirations and goals.
I want to exhibit my work in various places!
To ensure continued creative activity, I will first focus on creating a conducive environment.

Please share a message for everyone aiming to apply next year!
Please cherish the things you consider to be "good."
I'm looking forward to seeing some interesting works.

≪Profile≫
Asako Ishizaki

□Brief biography
Born in Tochigi Prefecture in 1996.
Graduated from Musashino Art University, Faculty of Art and Design, Department of Sculpture in 2021.
Currently enrolled in the first year of the Master's Program in Sculpture, Department of Fine Arts, Graduate School of Art and Design, Musashino Art University.
□Exhibition
2017 Group Exhibition "Musabi Art Site" (Tokyo Metropolitan Musashi Kokubunji Park/Tokyo)
2019 Group Exhibition "Kodaira Art Site Yorimichi Art 2019" (Kodaira Central Park, Tokyo)
2020 Group exhibition "Delirious Musings" (KOGANE ART SPOT Chateau 2F/Tokyo)
2021 "Musashino Art University Graduation and Completion Exhibition for the 2020 Academic Year" (Musashino Art University Takanodai Campus/Tokyo)
2021 Two-person exhibition "Strap Hole" (Musashino Art University Takanodai Campus/Tokyo)
2021 "Musashino Art University Outstanding Works Exhibition" (Musashino Art University Museum / Tokyo)
□ Planning and Activities
2019 Planning and Executive Committee Chairperson: "Kodaira Art Site Yorimichi Art 2019" (Kodaira Central Park, Tokyo)
2019: Planning and Moderation: "Masao Shirakawa Talk Event <Art and Publicness: The Possibilities of Regional Art>" (Kodaira Central Park, Tokyo)
2020 Project "Delirious Musings" (KOGANE ART SPOT Chateau 2F/Tokyo)
2020 Project: "Installation and Packaging Lecture" (Musashino Art University FAL/Tokyo)
2021 Talk event/presentation: "Polyphonic Food" (Musashino Art University Museum/Tokyo)
□ Awards received
Received the Excellent Work Award at the 2021 Musashino Art University Graduation and Completion Exhibition.

≪Crafts Division≫ Ken Tanishiki

Grand Prize Winning Work
Title: "OLLIE IN" (Wood carving, special printing)

Congratulations on winning the grand prize! Please tell us how you feel right now.
I was extremely grateful and delighted. It was a new form of expression for me, and it has become an encouragement for my future creative work.

Please tell us what inspired you to choose the path of becoming an artist.
There are several motivations, but I think it's mainly because I wanted to share the emotions and imagination I felt with someone.

What motivated you to apply this time?
I applied last time as well, and received feedback from many people,
I applied again this year. One of the reasons is that, unusually for an art exhibition, the size requirements for the artwork are very generous, allowing for a high degree of freedom, and I strongly resonated with their welcoming attitude.

Please tell us about the concept behind your work and the thoughts you put into its creation.
In the midst of the unprecedented situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to turn this situation and experience into something positive, so I chose skateboarding as a motif, as it represents a perspective on overcoming obstacles and how to make the most of those obstacles.
I feel that secondhand clothing is a material that possesses spiritual elements such as memories and recollections, so I asked an acquaintance to give me secondhand clothes that people who actually skate no longer wear, and I created this piece hoping that people would feel the momentum, courage, and sense of liberation that comes from overcoming obstacles through the spiritual and physical aspects of that clothing.

Please tell me what you focused on the most and what you struggled with the most.
This applies to all my works, but I always make sure to carefully and respectfully incorporate the vintage clothing I receive into my creations. The hardest part was collecting the socks (laughs).
Socks are considered disposable items, so if they're in poor condition, they're thrown away immediately.

What kind of activities do you plan to pursue going forward, using this award as motivation? Please tell us about your future aspirations and goals.
My work involves real people, and I can't complete it on my own. The way the work is created changes significantly depending on the timeline and relationships involved. Rather than creating it alone, it's only truly complete with the help of real collaborators.
My own motivation and theme for creating art is proof of existence, so I would be extremely happy if this award leads to more connections with others and encourages many people to cooperate with me!
Furthermore, my goal is to create works with super durability and strength, imagining that hundreds of years from now, future generations will feel that such people existed.

Please share a message for everyone aiming to apply next year!
The Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition has generous size regulations, and they are very supportive and willing to offer advice during the exhibition process, so I encourage you to give it your all and challenge yourself.

≪Profile≫
Ken Yashiki

Born in Tokyo in 1983.
□ Major awards received
December 2007: JFW JAPAN CREATION TEXTILE CONTEST 2008, Newcomer Award
September 2018: Grand Prix at the 25th Yuzawaya Creative Art Award Exhibition
January 2019: Honorable Mention at the 1st Tagawa Art Biennale
March 2019, 54th Showa-kai Exhibition, Tokyo Marine & Nichido Award
March 2019: 54th Showa-kai Exhibition, New York Prize
June 2019 ART OLYMPIA 2019 Excellence Award
Selected for the Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition in July 2019.
February 2020: Selected for the FACE 2020 Sompo Japan Koa Art Award.
September 2020: SICF21 Audience Award & Wacoal Study Hall Kyoto Encouragement Award
December 2020: UNKNOWN ASIA 2020 eplus Award & Reviewer Award

≪Calligraphy Division≫ Daisuke Yamaguchi

Grand Prize Winning Work
Title: "Mi Fu's Shu Su Tie, Chapter 1"

Congratulations on winning the grand prize! Please tell us how you feel right now.
I am extremely grateful and feel very fortunate.
I am filled with gratitude to my mentors who guided me, to my seniors in this field who always support me, and to my family.

Please tell us what inspired you to choose the path of becoming an artist.
I remember as a child, I loved watching the movement of the brush as my calligraphy teacher wrote right in front of me, and I would intently follow her hands with my eyes.
Rather than trying to imitate the example, I enjoyed seeing if I could recreate the comfortable movements.
Of course, no matter how much I practiced, I could never get close, but I learned that there are infinite possibilities for expression in calligraphy through movement.
Looking back now, I think that initial interest sparked my enjoyment of self-expression, and I naturally gravitated towards this path.

What motivated you to apply this time?
Kanagawa Prefecture is known for its thriving calligraphy tradition, and it is home to many highly motivated calligraphers.
My motivation stemmed from my desire to participate in the prestigious Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition, where I myself wanted to exhibit my work and learn from the experience.

Please tell us about the thoughts and feelings you put into the creation of this work.
While the "alone time" brought on by the pandemic was sometimes lonely, calligraphy, something I could immerse myself in silently and pour my passion into, allowed me to experience the joy of creation and rediscover the pleasure of learning. Striving towards my ideals is enjoyable, and I held my brush each day, looking ahead to the bright future that awaits.

Please tell me what you focused on the most and what you struggled with the most.
This was created using calligraphy from the era of Qin Shi Huang.
This is called Xiao Zhuan (small seal script), and you may still see it today on seals and other items. While it has strong rules and constraints, variations in line thickness and brushstroke speed can be used.
The ideal was to seamlessly combine the characteristics of both "restraint" and "liberation."

What kind of activities do you plan to pursue going forward, using this award as motivation? Please tell us about your future aspirations and goals.
I currently work at Kawasaki Daishi Temple.
Inheriting a long history, the rituals and customs are still passed down unchanged today.
Regardless of the field, traditional culture possesses a subtle beauty that comes from refining a single style over a long period of time.
Similarly, in the art of calligraphy, I want to cherish the foundation and strive to reach a high level of mastery.
Our goal is to transform this temple town, associated with Kobo Daishi, into a "town of calligraphy" and convey the charm of handwriting to many people.

Please share a message for everyone aiming to apply next year!
Kanagawa Prefecture is rich in history, and its various regions are connected by culture and art.
We hope that through your works, the joy of creating and appreciating art will be shared with many people, and that the allure of art will be passed on to the future.

≪Profile≫
Yamaguchi Taimu

□Brief biography
Born in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1987.
Graduated from Daito Bunka University in 2009.

Selected for the Nitten Exhibition 6 times
Yomiuri Shoho Association Director
Standing Director, Kenshin Calligraphy Association
Standing Director, Kawasaki City Calligraphy Federation

≪Photography Category≫ DONG YUEYING (Kou Getsuei)
(left)
(center)
(right)

Grand Prize Winning Work
Title: "Unnatural" (3-disc set)

Congratulations on winning the grand prize! Please tell us how you feel right now.
I was very happy. It also boosted my confidence.

Please tell us what inspired you to choose the path of becoming an artist.
After graduating from university, I was wondering what to study or what to do for a job. It was during this time that I saw the works of artists at a gallery and thought that perhaps I should pursue a career as an artist, so I followed my heart.

What motivated you to apply this time?
I first learned about it from my teacher during class, and I thought I might be able to submit my own work as well.

Please tell us about the concept behind your work and the thoughts you put into its creation.
I want to explore the possibilities of photographic expression that combine digital technology and live-action footage. I tried a new form of expression by combining actual footage with digital technology. By manipulating color elements, I highlight the differences from real life. The concept is that if an everyday scene suddenly changes, viewers will feel some kind of connection between "their own daily life" and the "sense of difference," and reconsider their own lives.

Please tell me what you focused on the most and what you struggled with the most.
As I studied, I began to think about how environmental changes such as innovation and intellectual trends relate to artistic expression, which is why I'm so particular about digital technologies like computer graphics, 3D processing, and color treatment.
For me, the most difficult thing is learning how to use 3D and CG software. It took me a very long time to learn it from scratch.

What kind of activities do you plan to pursue going forward, using this award as motivation? Please tell us about your future aspirations and goals.
I was really torn about whether to become a writer or look for a job in the future. Then I applied for this award and won, and that's how I ended up deciding that I really wanted to continue my writing career.
I realized that I want to continue creating art. I want to become an artist who can expand their reach from Asia to the world.

Please share a message for everyone aiming to apply next year!
Let's just try it without overthinking it.

≪Profile≫
DONG YUEYING (Kou Getsuei)

□Brief biography
Graduated from the Photography Department of Shanghai Academy of Visual Arts in 2019.
Enrolled in the Complex Arts program at Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2021.

You can view videos of the 56th Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition as an "online exhibition."
[Online Exhibition] https://www.kanagawa-kenbiten.com/

The 56th Kanagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
[Dates] 1st Exhibition [Two-dimensional and Three-dimensional Works] August 25th (Wednesday) to September 5th (Sunday), 2021
Second Exhibition [Crafts, Calligraphy, Photography] September 8th (Wednesday) to September 19th (Sunday), 2021
From 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (until 2:00 PM on the last day of both sessions)
[Venue] Kanagawa Prefectural Hall Gallery
[Official Website] https://www.kanagawa-kenbiten.com/