Ikko Tanaka

Ikko Tanaka (Japanese田中 一 光, Ikko Tanaka, born January 13, 1930 in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan, † January 10, 2002 in Tokyo ) was a Japanese printmaker and graphic designer who specializes in commercial graphics and internationally known for his poster art.

Life and work

Ikko Tanaka studied until 1950 at the Municipal School of Art Kyoto. From 1950 to 1952 he worked in the Kanebo spinning mills, for which he designed textile patterns. He then worked for the publishing house of the Sankei Shimbun as exhibition designer. In 1963 he founded his own design studio in Tokyo. In 1960 he years he was a lecturer at the Graphic Institute in Kuwazawa.

After 1975, he worked as art director of the Seibu department store chain. He designed the corporate identity of this department store group and the appearance of the associated cultural institutions including the Seibu Theatre and the Sezon Museum of Art in Tokyo.

Ikko Tanaka is one of the most important graphic designer working today in Japan. His diverse oeuvre includes poster designs, book illustrations and magazine designs, logos, and the logo and packaging. He also dealt with experimental calligraphy. Among his clients were international companies, such as Shiseido, Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori and Salvatore Ferragamo. He co-founded the Nippon Design Center in Tokyo in 1960 with Yusaku Kamekura. In 1964, his works at the documenta III in Kassel in the Department graphics were shown.

In 1970, Tanaka designed the pavilion of Japanese history at Expo '70 in Osaka and in 1980 the exhibition " Japan Style" at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Internationally he is best known for his posters. Most emerged for cultural events such as theater and dance performances, especially for the Japanese Noh theater. He also designed posters for art exhibitions and concerts, worked for Font manufacturer and designer, and applied social and environmental themes in his work.

Literature and sources

• Documenta III. International Exhibition; Catalogue: Volume 1: Paintings and Sculpture; Volume 2: Hand drawings; Volume 3: Industrial design, graphic; Kassel / Cologne 1964