Dialogue - Yamaka Design Office Tomohiro Ono -
Ono Tomohiro of Yamaka Design Office, a graphic design studio that has renovated a warehouse in the center of Yamaka Town, Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture.
"Daily life is important to face manufacturing," says Mr. Ito, talking about his daily life in Yamaga Town.
It has been about two years since our last conversation. With the seasons changing, what experiences and thoughts did he have as he approached this exhibition?
What a single line conveys
Ono was born and raised in Oita Prefecture and has loved drawing since he was a child.
As a high school student, he was attracted to the CD jackets of hardcore bands and decided to become a graphic designer. After graduating, he went on to art school in Tokyo. He learned the basics of design, such as drawing and phototypesetting. After graduating, he worked in the graphic department of an apparel company for about two years.
During his spare time, he also created artworks. His first work was a line drawing of an object. He prefers abstract paintings to detailed works. When he draws a line, his hand honestly reflects the state of his mind at that moment. He thinks it is important to start creating after getting his mind in order and to face the paper with the same posture.
"Since I do a lot of work that involves using various types of paper, I've been able to come into contact with paper and incorporate it into my designs, gaining knowledge about the material. In working with various types of paper, I've come to see possibilities for paper beyond the printed materials I encounter in my design work. I would like to express these possibilities in my works."
With people who share the same values and sensibilities as me
During his busy time in Tokyo, he came to realize that "you can't make good things unless you have a solid foundation in life." Wanting to cherish his daily life and devote himself to design and creating works, he returned to Oita City at the age of 24 and became independent.
I worked as a graphic designer in Oita City for about four years. At that time, I felt uncomfortable with the commercial graphic design work I was doing, and wanted to work on designs for people who shared my values and sensibilities, so I moved to Yamagata, Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture.
Ono-san is also interested in printing because he finds the accidental products created by the natural environment fascinating and interesting. In order to create an environment where he can take paper more seriously, he will be collecting equipment such as letterpress printing machines within reach.
Designers and writers
Ono is a graphic designer and artist who understands the client's intentions. At first glance, one would imagine a completely different approach. How does he perceive and approach this?
"I approach my graphic design work and artwork with the same feelings. Whether it's design or creating artwork, my desire to make people happy is the same. The underlying theme is the nature around me and the things that are born while living in Yamaka. I want to incorporate the scenery I see and the sunlight I feel while living in this town into my work."
It's like it's been there for a long time
This was the artist's second exhibition at Utsushiki. The exhibition featured a collection of abstract works, including posters, vessels, and small items made from paper.
This was the first attempt to use lacquer in the process of turning paper into vessels. By layering lacquer on the surface of the washi paper, the paper takes on an appearance that resembles leather or bark, and depending on the viewer, it may or may not have a purpose.
"Although the number of completed works is limited, I work with the cooperation of many people in selecting the paper and printing and processing. The paints and paper materials I use also have different properties, and depending on where they were grown and the years they have been used, not a single piece of material has the same appearance. I approach the creation of my works by paying close attention to these differences and listening carefully. The works I create are in a natural state, as if they have been there since ancient times, and although I do make adjustments, I try not to make them look artificial."
By forgetting one's ego and surrendering oneself to the material known as paper, and by taking the time to face it head-on, one can discover the true essence within the ordinary.
Because it's close to where you live
Ono says he wants to continue working in design and creating artwork at a steady pace, putting life first.
In order not to overlook the ever-changing times and events in Yamaga Town, where everyday life itself becomes a source of vitality, I surrender myself to each moment as I work with the material of paper.
After this conversation, Ono-san continues to experiment with paper through trial and error because he has a strong curiosity to learn more. He says that the reason he is able to show this curiosity is because of his natural everyday life. He takes in each and every small thing and event that happens around him in his daily life as carefully as possible, and his journey of craftsmanship will continue unchanged from now on.
Interviewer and writer: Yoshiaki Ono
Abstract object
This is the second solo exhibition at Utsushiki by Tomohiro Ono, a designer from Yamaka Design Office in Kitsuki, Oita Prefecture. Since ancient times, Japanese people have found abstract beauty in worn or rusty things that have accumulated over time. He focuses on the qualities, commonalities and essences of things and representations, extracting and grasping them. He interprets and breaks down materials such as paper, earth and wood, and sublimates the parts of the texture of each material that he finds beautiful into works of art. He is both a designer and an artist, a geek with a geeky disposition who is constantly researching, otherwise known as Yamaka's Gandhi. Please enjoy his abstract expressions.
