"Singing Nakajo, Dancing Nakajo — Letters, Pictures, and Shiseido" (Shiseido Gallery) Opening Report: Looking Back at the Creativity of Masayoshi Nakajo, Who Conveyed Shiseido's Aesthetic Sense
An exhibition commemorating the fifth anniversary of Masayoshi Nakajo's passing is now open at the Shiseido Gallery, focusing on his creative work for Shiseido.Summary
The exhibition "Singing Nakajo, Dancing Nakajo — Letters, Pictures, and Shiseido" is being held at the Shiseido Gallery in Ginza, Tokyo, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the passing of graphic designer Masayoshi Nakajo (1933–2021), who long directed design and art for Shiseido. Nakajo, who established his own design office after working at Shiseido, was responsible for the art direction of the corporate culture magazine *Hanatsubaki* for over 40 years, as well as numerous logos and product packages. The exhibition focuses on the relationship between "letters" and "pictures" in his design, featuring approximately 200 works from the Shiseido collection, including cosmetic posters, Shiseido Parlour packaging, and previously unexhibited original illustrations. Additionally, a "Hanatsubaki Library" allows visitors to browse archives of the magazine from 1982 to 2025, tracing the trajectory of Shiseido's values under Nakajo's direction. The exhibition also includes a video work by contemporary designer Takata Yamaguchi reinterpreting Nakajo's aesthetic essence, allowing visitors to rediscover the enduring value of his work.
(Source：美術手帖)