Sharaku 3: A Bold Reinterpretation of Edo Era Artistry

Yasuhito Takeuchi's Award-Winning Design Celebrates an Enigmatic Painter

Takeuchi found inspiration in the boldness of Sharaku, who stood out among his contemporaries by exaggerating the faces and bodies of Kabuki actors in his paintings. Despite the strict societal rules of the Edo era, Sharaku defied stereotypes and expressed his originality, a trait that Takeuchi admired and sought to emulate in his design.

Sharaku 3 is not just a poster, but a fusion of art, history, and fashion. Takeuchi collaborated with a fashion designer to create socks and an interior designer to craft a Kabuki mirror, incorporating these elements into the poster's design. The aim was to create a world that Sharaku might have inhabited, blending the painter's unique style with modern aesthetics.

Takeuchi's design process was meticulous and involved extensive research into Sharaku's work and the culture of the Edo era. He strived to keep the design as authentic as possible, using minimal graphical techniques and focusing on the objects in the photographs themselves. The result is a visually stunning poster that captures the essence of Sharaku's artistry while introducing a contemporary twist.

The poster, measuring 594 mm by 841 mm, was exhibited at Tokyo Design Week in November 2016. Despite the challenges of creating a design that was unrestricted and not overly reliant on graphics, Takeuchi and his team were able to produce a work that is both impactful and experimental.

In conclusion, Yasuhito Takeuchi's Sharaku 3 is a testament to the enduring influence of historical artistry on contemporary design. It is a bold reinterpretation of Sharaku's work, showcasing the designer's ability to blend different elements into a cohesive and engaging design. This innovative approach to design, which challenges conventional norms and encourages free expression, is a fitting tribute to the enigmatic painter who inspired it.