Author: Keith Aiken
Source: PARCO Co., Ltd. press release
Official Site: https://godzillatheart.com/
Official X: https://twitter.com/godzillatheart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godzillatheart
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
PARCO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) iwill host the "GODZILLA THE ART by PARCO vol.3" exhibition at GALLERY X BY PARCO at Shibuya PARCO B1F for 17 days from from July 5 to July 21, 2024. This exhibit will be third installment of the project "GODZILLA THE ART," a series of events that kicked off in April 2023 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the birth of Godzilla. A global icon since his first theatrical release in 1954, Godzilla has shown the world various, ever-changing expressions over the past 7 decades with a total of 38 films produced and released, including 30 domestic films, 3 animated films, and 5 Hollywood versions.
Under the supervision of anatomist Takeshi Yoro, artists from Japan and abroad who live in the modern age confront Godzilla in their own ways, transcending the framework of film to present their own interpretations of Godzilla. For "GODZILLA THE ART by PARCO vol.3" the participants will be Kosuke Kawamura and Kensuke Koike.
Various other projects are also in the works, so please check back with SciFi Japan for further announcements.
A special video interview with Takeshi Yoro is now available on YouTube. What is Godzilla? What is art? What is art?
Event supervisor Takeshi Yoro discusses Godzilla and art. Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
■ "GODZILLA THE ART by PARCO vol. 3" Exhibition Outline
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
Dates: Friday, July 5 - Sunday, July 21, 2024
Venue: GALLERY X BY PARCO (Shibuya PARCO B1F / 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Participating Artists: Kosuke Kawamura, Kensuke Koike
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. *Admission until 30 minutes before closing time. *Closes at 6:00 p.m. on the last day
Admission: 500円 (Approximately $3.11 U.S., Tax Included) *Pre-school children free
Organizer: PARCO
Cooperation: TOHO / Asahi Shimbun / Qiuyu Jin
Logo Design: Kazunari Kitagawa (GRAPH)
Event Site: https://art.parco.jp/galleryx/detail/?id=1509
Advance reservations are required for the three days from Friday, July 5 - Sunday, July 7. Tickets for reservations go on sale 10:00 a.m Saturday, June 29 at: https://t.livepocket.jp/t/bazkj
■ Participating Artists
The featured participating artists are Kosuke Kawamura, a graphic designer and art director active in a wide range of fields, and Kensuke Koike, an Italy-based artist who creates collage works using vintage photographs.
Please come and see how these two artists, who share the common technique of collage, express their own interpretation of Godzilla at the exhibition.
Two samples Kosuke Kawamura's artwork. Photos courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
● Kosuke Kawamura
Kosuke Kawamura. Photo courtesy of PARCO.
Artist/Graphic Designer, born in 1979 in Hiroshima. As a collage artist, he has collaborated with artists and participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Japan and abroad. His representative works include creating the main visual for Katsuhiro Otomo's first large-scale original art exhibition "Katsuhiro Otomo GENGA Exhibition" (2012), presenting the collage work "AKIRA ART WALL PROJECT" using AKIRA (2019), and his solo exhibition "TRY SOMETHING BETTER" (2021).
He continues to be active in graphic work for apparel brands, jackets, book binding, advertising design, and art direction.
In 2021, he was appointed creative director of UT.
https://www.instagram.com/kosukekawamura/
Kensuke Koike art. Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
Kensuke Koike art. Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
● Kensuke Koike
Kensuke Koike. Photo courtesy of PARCO.
Visual artist, born 1980 in Aichi.
After studying at the National Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, Italy, he completed a degree in visual arts at the University of Architecture of Venice.
Since 2005, he has held numerous group and solo exhibitions in Italy, Germany, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. His works are in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum, among others.
https://www.instagram.com/kensukekoike/
The official website of "GODZILLA THE ART" has posted the video GODZILLA THE ART 10 Questions vol.3 ｜ Kensuke Koike, in which the artist explains how he interpreted Godzilla and expressed the King of the Monsters in his artwork.
■ Event Exclusive Collectibles
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
● GODZILLA THE ART Exhibition Commemorative Movie Monster Series: Godzilla (1954) Kosuke Kawamura ver. (GODZILLA THE ART 開催記念 ムービーモンスターシリーズ ゴジラ(1954) 河村康輔ver., GODZILLA THE ART Kaisai Kinen Mūbī Monsutā Shirīzu Gojira (1954) Kawamura Kosuke ver . )
A Bandai limited edition Movie Monster Series: Godzilla (1954) figure with a new color design by participating artist Kosuke Kawamura. Available exclusively to attendees of "GODZILLA THE ART by PARCO vol.3."
Price: 5,500円 (Approximately $34.18 U.S., Tax Included)
*The image is a prototype and may differ from the actual product.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
● GODZILLA THE ART Commemorative Toho Large Monsters Series Godzilla (2023): Heat Radiation Version (GODZILLA THE ART 開催記念 東宝大怪獣シリーズ ゴジラ(2023) 熱線放射バージョン, GODZILLA THE ART Kaisai Kinen Tōhō Daikaijū Shirīzu Gojira (2023) Nessen Hōsha Bājon)
This limited edition X-Plus figure is currently in production, so reservations are only accepted at the venue. Available exclusively to attendees of "GODZILLA THE ART by PARCO vol.3."
Reservations will be taken from a tablet set up at the venue and delivered to the address you specify (Delivery will be made only within Japan). Delivery will be made beginning at the end of August.
Price: 27,500円 (Approximately $170.91 U.S., Tax Included)
*The image is a prototype and may differ from the actual product. One person may purchase up to three of these figures.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
● GODZILLA THE ART - Limited Movie Monster Series: Godzilla (1954) Model (ムービーモンスターシリーズゴジラ(1954)雛形, Mūbī Monsutā Shirīzu Gojira (1954) Hinagata)
A Bandai limited edition Movie Monster Series: Godzilla (1954) Model figure is being sold exclusively at the GODZILLA THE ART events. The first Godzilla prototype was sculpted by Toho designer Teizo Toshimitsu to determine the look of the original Godzilla. At this stage of pre-production, Godzilla's body was designed to look as if it were covered with scales, which was different from the widely known Godzilla of today. This figure looks back to the very origins of Godzilla.
Price: 4,620円 (Approximately $28.71 U.S., Tax Included)
*The image is a prototype and may differ from the actual product.
■ Godzilla Event T-shirts by guernika Will Also be on Sale!
Beginning Friday, July 5, guernika, an apparel brand designed by contemporary artist Shinichiro Inui, will start selling collaborative items in advance at Shibuya Parco. The limited-edition T-shirts, which incorporate the poster designs of past Godzilla films into guernika's worldview through spray art, as well as guernika's signature paint T-shirts, will also be available in limited quantities. This is a special collaboration using art that was drawn especially for this collaboration.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
Photo courtesy of PARCO. © TOHO CO., LTD.
● Shinichiro Inui
Inui moved to the U.S. by himself at the age of 18. After receiving a BFA from the University of Oregon, he moved his base of operations to Osaka, Japan.
In 2012, he established the apparel brand "guernika". His works are created using a variety of materials and techniques, including paintings, collages, oil paintings, photographs, videos, and even fashion tools, with the aim of defining issues related to social networking and consumerist fashion and art in today's society. The artist's own brand "guernika" offers a new world of creation that transcends the boundaries between art and fashion, including painting on clothes and bags.
Shinichiro Inui, founder of the apparel brand guernika. Photo courtesy of PARCO.
About PARCO Co., Ltd.
About Toho
Toho Company, Limited, is a Japanese entertainment studio focused on the development, production, exhibition, and distribution of powerful live action and animated content including motion pictures, television and theater. Founded in 1932, Toho remains a prominent force in bringing brands and original storytelling with versatile talents to audiences worldwide. Its subsidiaries include Toho Cinemas, the highest grossing exhibition company in Japan, and Toho International, Inc., a U.S. established incorporated company that manages and commercializes Toho’s intellectual property portfolio. To learn more, visit toho.co.jp/en.