La derrota sufrida por Japón en la guerra trajo como consecuencia un acelerado desarrollo industrial que contrastó fuertemente con una sociedad que había sido feudal hasta hacía poco (mediados del siglo XIX). Estas experiencias y cambios estructurales en su país tendrían una influencia determinante en la vida de Shigeo Fukuda, y en el carácter social y pacifista de su obra.

Academic training

When the war ended, he began his studies in Tokyo, at the University of Fine Arts and Music, graduating in 1956.Shigeo Fukuda's life would continue to be linked to this study center forever.A short time after graduating, he began his professional development as a graphic designer and sculptor.The next decade begins to use geometric absurdities and incorporates illusionism in their creations.

Professional work

In 1967 the Fukuda designer created his first international transcendence work with the design of the poster for the 1970 Osaka exhibition.In these years he also incorporates into his works elements of the playful graph, close to anime and comic.

It is believed that Fukuda developed his interest in three -dimensional art in the 80s, after his daughter was born.The first three -dimensional creations were the toys built for their daughter, but eventually this connected it with illusionism and magic.

Artista de renombre

His work becomes famous and renowned in the United States, in this way the graphic designer Shigeo Fukude quickly makes a recognized talent of the poster.His great jump to fame was with his selected poster as the officer for the Japan exhibition in 1970.

Social y pacifista

Throughout his life he had great commercial success, however, his work is characterized by his social character.Among the best known is, for example, the design "Victory 1945", a poster that made in 1975 for Amnesty International.

In this work the design of Shigeo Fukuda shows a bullet returning to a cannon.Another particularly known work was his poster of "Earth Day" 1982.It shows a branch sprouting from an ax in clear allusion to the rebirth of nature.

Investigador y docente

In addition to being an artist, Shigeo Fukuda dedicated much of his life to teaching (from 1973 to 2002) at the same university where he formed.He also taught at Yale University from 1982 to 1984.

As a teacher, he transmitted to students the critical sense, his extraordinary passion for creation and his great entrepreneurial spirit.The teaching work was accompanied by research, which further enriched the complexity of his work.

The end of his life

He served as president of the Japan Graphic Designers Association in his last years of existence.He was also vice president of Icograda and a member of other renowned institutions.Shigeo Fukuda dies in 2009 in Japan due to cerebral hemorrhage.

Awards and honours

In his long and successful career he received multiple awards and awards:

In addition to the awards and recognitions achieved, the artist made exhibitions in France, Japan, Italy, United States (New York), Canada, etc..One of the most representative was that of 1997 when he performs his famous personal exhibition called “an artist with visual ingenuity” (Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo).

The artistic style of Shigeo Fukuda

His works are diverse and have the influence of virtuous from the West such as M.C.Escher.Also of pioneers of the graph like Takashi Kohno of Japan and the Swiss minimalism for which he felt great inclination from his youth.All these are influences of Fukuda Shigeo who define their unique style.

The art of Shigeo Fukuda is closer to the ethical and social commitment than to the advertising aspect.It is also characterized by humor and playful spirit.He himself synthesized his style in a statement for Magazine idea:

The characteristics of Shigeo Fukuda in his works are complex messages, optical illusions, mental games and humor.It also follows the Japanese traditions with Origami, its predilection for striking and strong colors, and for contrasts (red, white and white).

As a graphic designer, he was inclined to the influence of Swiss minimalism.Their posters and posters were characterized by political, cultural and social issues.Shigeo Fukuda sculptures are created with heterogeneous materials and are distinguished by the play of lights and shadows, with ambiguous figures and optical illusions.

Main works by Shigeo Fukuda

In his long and successful career, Fukuda received important international awards and awards.The meaning of his works is complex and deep, and the way of transmitting it always reveals his personal style.Below is a selection of Shigeo Fukuda masterpieces.

Victory 1945

It was the work he did for Amnesty International in 1975, with his pacifist message represented in a bullet returning to a cannon.Shigeo Fukuda reinvent surrealism with a touch of joy thanks to his simple drawing and humor.

This work, like many of their creations, express a concept in a nonverbal way or through visual phenomena.His complex ideas are transformed into surprisingly simple and eloquent figures.

When 30 years of the end of the war were completed, in 1975, Japan needed a sign with a clear message.Then Fukuda draws his poster with the figure of the inverted bullet, which represents the lack of meaning of the wars.

Earth day

The Earth Day poster (1982) is with which Shigeo Fukuda breaks with the cultural and linguistic barriers showing his world -famous style.The ax that is in rest position has an outbreak at the top, remembering how nature prevails and makes its way.The text "Happy Earthday" written in green color reinforces the idea.It is one of the best known Shigee.

Lunch with A Helmet On (Lunch with helmet)

This work is an example of his art with illusionism, deceptive visual effects and the absurd.The sculpture is created with 848 knives, spoons and welded forks, but when the light on the utensils is turned on projects the shadow of a motorcycle.In this way illusion and art are combined through light and darkness.

The Gioconda de Shigeo Fukuda

It is the work of Leonardo da Vinci composed of 3.485 flags.This technique of building an image with small figures that are repeated, is a sample of patience, care in detail, technical skill and concentration.

Boat made

This sculpture is built with 2,000 spoons projecting a shadow that resembles the figure of a ship, in the typical style of Shigeo Fukuda and the Shadow Art.

COVER

Fukuda Shigeo COVER work shows two different figures.Depending on the angle from where it is observed, you can see the representation of a pianist and a violinist in the same sculpture.Caile truly represents the importance of a point of view.In this creation of Fukuda Shigee.

Shigeo Fukuda artist is the most versatile of artists dedicated to optical illusions.His artistic work is full of complex messages and mental games, with a touch of humor that is transmitted through the absurd.The works of this graphic designer, sculptor and posterist are exhibited throughout the world for their beauty, simplicity and great artistic importance.