PMKFA

"I rather have a body of work that speak for itself than a specific style".

The cover design for February was created by PMKFA, who is originally from Sweden and is now based in Tokyo, creating diverse works for various fields. Nothing can stop PMKFA who explores something unexperienced, but new challenges! PMKFA revealed wide variety of his challenges of the past, present and future.

Sixpack Book © PMKFA

Please introduce yourself.

Azito News January 10

Kanako Sasaki "Walking in the Jungle" Series.

AZITO is an online gallery which brings the hottest contemporary Japanese artworks to the international scale. By collaborating with Japan’s leading galleries and artists, AZITO makes these works readily available for purchase online. And with new arrivals every month, this is truly your personalized insight into the thriving world of Japanese contemporary art.

Walking in the Jungle: Anne Frank in the forest by Kanako Sasaki

Koichiro Kimura Aoyama

A new space using 4,000 pieces of pyramid objects launched in Aoyama.

A Sendai-based internationally active designer as well as an owner of the interior showroom 'international', Koichiro Kimura opened his second showroom "koichiro kimura aoyama" in Aoyama Tokyo in September 2009.

Showroom at the 2nd floor / © koichiro kimura aoyama

Rebecca Horn Exhibition

Rebellion in Silence, Dialogue between Raven and Whale.



Concert for Anarchy, 1990, Photo: Attilio Maranzano ©2009:Rebecca Horn

As the last year of the 2000s, year of 2009 was a big year for art exhibitions held in Japan. Looking back the past years, I think it is because I was truly impressed by exhibitions especially by female artists such as Annette Messager Exhibition at Mori Art Museum, Miyako Ishiuchi Exhibition at Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo. Not surprisingly, Rebecca Horn Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo should be added to the list.

Der Eintänzer, 1978, film ©2009:Rebecca Horn

Germany-born contemporary artist Rebecca Horn held her exhibition in Japan for the first time. Her earlier work is known for her performance wearing feathers and horns. After her participation to Documenta 5, she has explored to work on a wide variety of art expressions.

Natsuki Arai

An emerging creator who depicts opposites and inconsistencies with analog and digital styles.

The very first cover design for SHIFT 2010 is a work by Natsuki Arai who has worked on the visual for the last page of SHIFT 2010 Calendar. Based in Tokyo, Natsuki Arai has been working on illustrations as an individual creator and also as one of the members of Tokyo Illustration Center, exploring his works with sophisticated lines. We interviewed him about his recent activities and works.

Please introduce yourself.

Frantzén/Lindeberg

"We let the nature create".

In barely 2 years, Björn Frantzén has established himself as a worldwide referent in Scandinavian cuisine. Winner of Michelin star among other important awards during 2009, generates hi-standard expectations about his restaurant but also Frantzén/Lindeberg is one of the most special spots in Stockholm.

The place is located in the mystic and cozy Old Town, Gamla Stan. Here Björn offers a unique experience. There are just 6 tables, almost as many of the staff as a guests, the kitchen is open to the public, so you can see Björn and his team working in front of you, however still with a homely feeling. In addition, it´s a perfect combination to get the charismatic and literary place of Gamla Stan to the other side of the big windows. It creates a cool mix with a foggy Stockholm night outside.

FUGAHUM

"FUGAHUM" a kingdom that creates a new concept.

FUGAHUM is a keen fashion brand started in 2006 by Akiyoshi Mishima, an artist and previously worked as an art director at Enlightenment until last July, and a fashion designer Asuka Yamamoto, and a new member since 2007 Takao Mishima who works on the Men's line. Without sticking to single field such as "fashion" and "art", they showcase the FUGAHUM kingdom in the form of collections, which are created out of their unique ideas. As one of the elements for the art project that will complete with 10 volumes, the Vol06, Spring Summer 2010 collection "PRIMITIVE CHANNEL" was presented in the end of October. FUGAHUM revealed their kingdom including their latest collection.

Please tell us how did you start FUGAHUM.

FIAC 2009

The most expensive contemporary art fair.

The recent art fairs are always talked about quantifying its degree of success, and FIAC (Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain) for this year is one of those art fairs which was also represented in figures from all perspectives.

International Festival for Arts and Media Yokohama 2009

Head to Yokohama to see the latest film and media art!

The CREAM International Festival for Arts and Media Yokohama 2009 is taking place for the first time in the city of Yokohama from October 31st to November 29th.
Consisting of 3 main venues and 2 satellite venues, the festival features film work exhibitions, lives, forums and workshops at the 2 main sites Shinko Pier and BankART Studio NYK, and movie screening shows and talk events held only on Saturdays and Sundays at another main site, Tokyo University of the Arts, Bashamichi Campus. At the satellite, you will be enjoying exhibitions at Nogeyama Animal Park and movies at Koganecho Area Management Center 1-1 Studio.

Baishinka

A new creation for Japanese culture.

Confectioneries in ancient times must have been prepared from nature using fruits and nuts. Reflecting the roots of such sweets and exploring new possibilities for Japanese style sweets, Simplicity opened its new shop Baishinka, reinterpreting the ultimate aesthetic of Japan from various point of views to realize a new style of Japanese confectionery shop.

Cencoroll

Cencoroll - a short animated film created entirely by the emerging artist Atsuya Uki.

Cencoroll, an animated short film that took Atsuya Uki 2 and a half years to create by himself, finally came out on DVD on 28th October 2009. Screened in the Fantasia Film Festival in Canada and within Japan, it is much talked about all over the world.

AUSTRIAN CONTEMPORARY FASHION

Austria's great creativity with their unique, elegant and refined ideas.

Involved with sales, merchandising and press in worldwide fashion, DUNE has been running a select shop, Nid, featuring unique fashion brands collected around the world. As an event celebrating for the 140-years diplomatic relation between Japan and Austria, DUNE launched an event "DUNE presents AUSTRIAN CONTEMPORARY FASHION" that took place at Tamada Projects on the 22nd of October 2009. As a part of Tokyo Collection Week 2010 SS, the invited Austrian designers showcased their latest collections.

Austrian Fashion Photographers

Great visual talents that support and complement the vivid Austrian fashion scene.



If we have, throughout the past few months and in a collaborative effort between AUSTRIANFASHION.NET and Shift magazine, repeatedly tried to familiarise our readers with the Austrian fashion universe, yet another aspect should be taken into account when taking stock of the creative impact of our local fashion scene. For the liveliest and most creative fashion scene will only become as visible and successful as the images that reflect and capture it allow it to be.

Gram

We tend to get potholed with the rest of the magnificent Swedish brands.

Very first time I met Alexis Holm and Anna Stenvi was in the after party for the Stockholm Fashion Week back in 2007. Flow rarely goes so easy, well despite by the mojitos. They are a truly partnership and one of the most significant people hitting the pulse of Stockholm by means of their different P.R actions and events in the city.

With a solid experice, Alexis worked as a buyer for a large Swedish fashion brand, and has both extensive knowledge of the footwear retail business as well as 2 years of study in construction and design in Stockholm and Anna holds a degree in fashion marketing from London College of Fashion and has worked with event management, PR, apparel retail and as a buyer for H&M, they decided put the fire on and run their own brand, both under some-thirty. Barely 2 years after that, Gram was sold in 4 different countries. 6 seasons have passed since then and Gram is now sold in 120 stores throughout more than 15 countries. They also have a online store.

Illustrative Berlin 2009

We will be watching, with interest.

Illustrative 2009 is the fifth installment of a festival that began four years ago. Over it’s lifespan the event has grown from a modest group show in Berlin to a roving festival featuring the work of illustrators from around the world, and now includes a conference program, a portfolio fair event, a showcase of work from Europe's best illustration and graphic arts schools, and a Young Illustrator Award.

A huge crowd of people surged into the exhibition space on the opening night, swapping the unseasonable cold outside for the warmth and visual feast in the Villa Elisabeth in downtown Berlin. But as we roamed from room to room, among the thickets and groves of creative work, we noticed that the exhibition – the centrepiece of this festival, featuring the work of over 60 artists – was not a collection of illustrations.

Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2009

Taking a slow walk to experience your favorite works at Echigo-Tsumari.

Holding the 4th time this year, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2009 is an art festival started since 2000, increasing the number of participating artists and exhibiting artworks year by year, and having grown as a big art event with about 370 artworks (including 160 pieces of the permanent collections once showcased in the past) exhibited for this year. Collaborated with the committee members, artists, volunteers and local communities together for these 10 years, the 2009 event was held for 2 months in the summer of Satoyama, where I have visited the event for 4 days in the beginning of September.

From Okaru, Hokkaido to the port of Niigata, it fully takes 20 hours of boarding on a ferry to visit the event site. During the long trip, I never got bored with great views of clear blue ocean, a sunset, stars and a sunrise, as getting used to the slow pace to enjoy the event as comfortable as possible. Because of the vast exhibit site, it's hard to go through all the works. What you need to enjoy the event best is to experience your own Triennial by taking a slow walk for heading to your favorite art.

ICEHOTEL

From ice age to the space age.

ICEOHOTEL Entrance. Photo: Ben Nilsson/Big Ben productions. © ICEHOTEL

A 20-year journey from a 60 cubic meter igloo to the world’s largest hotel of ice and snow. 62 rooms and cover an area of 5,500 square metres. The building material, 21,500 cubic meters of snow and 900 tonnes of ice, are borrowed from nature. Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the ICEHOTEL.

Jorine Oosterhoff

Dancing tableware in a fantasy world.

I think it' for sure every one of you would put a smile on your face when you see those unique tableware which could come alive at any moment. As one of them who were fascinated by the lovely tableware, SHIFT has interviewed with the designer, Jorine Oosternoff, to look closely into her wonderland of fantasy!

UNFOLDED

A collective art book of paper-made sculptural works.

Featuring sculptural pieces using different kinds of paper, the collective book UNFOLDED was released by Swiss publisher Birkhauser in September 2009.

Paper can be found everywhere in our daily lives. Nowadays, more things are seen on an LCD screen rather than paper as many things are digitized. Yet, we still need paper for our lives in such things as books, documents, wrapping papers, and Kleenex, etc. Among the works featured in this book, you can find various incredible ways to use paper. The unbelievable array of works includes objects made of paper less than 1 millimeter thick, and features many sensitive and attractive paper pieces including furniture, clothing designs and fine art. At first glance, you can feel the high quality of this book, including a fold-out poster in the book cover.

Designed by Pixelgarten

SHIFT 2010 CALENDAR

12 visuals have been selected for SHIFT 2010 CALENDAR!

The Shift Calendar Competition started in 2003 with an aim to discover fresh creators. For the 7th competition of this year we have received 1,837 entries from 38 countries. 12 carefully selected works will decorate each month of the Shift calendar, which will be on sale from October 20th and appeared in shops and galleries around the world.

Taking as an important role in making opportunities for worldwide creators to extend the stage for their activities, Shift calendar competition has delivered a number of visual works through these 7 years and the number of them counts 84 works. We believe the calendar competition will take many creators to various places where they can meet and discover, and will outspread the circle of creation derived from there.