Ikko Tanaka is a well known graphic designer who is noted for his incorporation of Japanese tradition and International style. His work often crosses language and cultural barriers. The work I have selected to anaylze is a poster that utilizes simple geometric shapes found in every culture to form a figure that is rooted in his own culture.The color scheme chosen is found in traditional Japanese artwork.The formation of the shapes around the eyeas create a reference to the stereotypical slant that is present in the eyes of Asian people. Everything that the image itself represents seems to come from the designer's own culture.
What allows this image to transcend cultural boundaries and be relevant to people of any background is what is not present in the image. Symbolism in many times is relevant to culture of the society in which the symbol is displayed. Similar symbols will have different meanings in different cultures, and what might portray a strong message in one area of the world could be meaningless in another. In the process of creating the figure we see as a traditional Japanese woman, nothing that is inherently of Japanese culture is used. A well known symbol of Japan is the sun that is present in its flag. While this is a easily identified symbol, it is still at is root based on Japanese culture.
The success of this image in my opinion is how Tanaka uses simple shapes that are common to every nation to come together to create a representation of Japanese art. It would be simple for a designer like myself to create an image reflecting American culture utilizing the colors red, white and blue and including a bald eagle somewhere in the composition. While this would be immediately recognizable by fellow Americans, someone not familiar with our culture might not understand the eagle. In essence Tanaka has taken something akin to our eagle, and has caused it to be accepted as a work of art within any culture.
The creativity and skill used here to define the geisha woman would be easily recognized anyone. It does not rely on the viewers recognition of the culture behind it to create the appreciation of the art. The art of the image is based on the shapes working together in tandem, not the Japanese figure itself. The beauty that I find in this image is not the reference to what is considered a beautiful woman in Japan, but simply the beauty of the art alone.
Ikko Tanaka is a well known graphic designer who is noted for his incorporation of Japanese tradition and International style. His work often crosses language and cultural barriers. The work I have selected to anaylze is a poster that utilizes simple geometric shapes found in every culture to form a figure that is rooted in his own culture.The color scheme chosen is found in traditional Japanese artwork.The formation of the shapes around the eyeas create a reference to the stereotypical slant that is present in the eyes of Asian people. Everything that the image itself represents seems to come from the designer's own culture.
