Shingo IGUCHI | 井口 真吾
Biography
Shingo IGUCHI | 井口 真吾
(b.1957)
1957 Born in Hiroshima, Japan
1983 Debuted in the comic magazine GARO
1984 Published the manga “Z CHAN”
In 1984, Iguchi launched the “Z PLAN” project, aiming to explore the possibility of characters and virtual worlds. Iguchi takes the world of the little boy “Z CHAN” marked by a magic hat and eyepatch as the main line, and presents a unique world full of philosophical hints and mysteries through comics, picture books, novels, poems, illustrations, paintings, performances, music, etc. While being disturbed by the real world, this world advances in parallel in another space.
Iguchi disassembled and reconstructed the constituent elements of the “Z CHAN” manga to form a concise and distinct painting style. The “Z” on the little boy’s hat hides multiple metaphors, and the Z of Zen is one of them. The aesthetics of Zen is the cornerstone of Iguchi’s works. Simple black and white lines form the basis of spatial expression, reminiscent of the dialogues of Zen「ぜんもんどう」.
The secondary character “Vanrogh Bear” in the picture book “Vanrogh’s Honey” is very popular with clothing and T-shirt manufacturers, and this character was inspired by the Zen training path to enlightenment ” Ten Oxherding Pictures “. Rose, a girl from ROSE HEAVEN (material world), strays into the parallel world of LOTUS HEAVEN (spiritual world), looking for answers with Vanrogh, Z CHAN, and other characters. In an era of increasing confusion, what should we believe in and what should we pursue? The story will continue…
After 2000, Shingo Iguchi was mainly active in the field of contemporary art. In addition to publishing picture books, comics, and books, the artist has held solo and group exhibitions and cross-border art exchange projects in Japan, Taiwan, China, and the United States. In 2010, he participated in the “Shanghai World Expo Commemorative Prints” exhibition. In 2021, he held a solo exhibition at Akitakata Municipal Yachiyonooka Museum of Art, Hiroshima Prefecture, his hometown.
Shingo IGUCHI | 井口 真吾
(b.1957)
1957 Born in Hiroshima, Japan
1983 Debuted in the comic magazine GARO
1984 Published the manga “Z CHAN”
Solo Exhibition
2023 “Z 2023 4″,99 Hualian Special, Tokyo, Japan
2022 “Z 2022m”, MDP GALLERY KAMAKURA, Kanagawa, Japan
2021 “Z CHAN’s World”, Akitakata Municipal Yachiyonooka Museum of Art,
Hiroshima, Japan
2021 “Where Will Prays Arrive”, G Gallery, Hiroshima, Japan
2021 “Z 2021f”, MDP GALLERY KAMAKURA, Kanagawa, Japan
2018 “ROSE LOTUS”, Little MOCA, Taiwan, China
2015 “VANROG HONEY”, NAKANO BROADWAY LITTLE HIGH, Tokyo, Japan
2014 “Z CHAN 30th Anniversary”, TOKYO CULTUART BY HARAJUKU BEAMS, Tokyo, Japan
2014 “Z CHAN & VANROGH”, SHIBUYA COURT, Tokyo, Japan
Group Exhibition
2022 “Shingo IGUCHI × Kishin FUNADA “, NAYA GALLERY, Hiroshima, Japan
2021 “ART LAB GROUP ART SHOW”, SHIBUYA CUBE1,2,3, Tokyo, Japan
2020 “ART LAB GROUP ART SHOW”, SHIBUYA CUBE1,2,3, Tokyo, Japan
2019 “NEO COUNTER SHAPE ART SHOW Vol.8”, SHIBUYA CUBE1,2,3, Tokyo, Japan
2016 “FROM AREA 5”, SHIBUYA CUBE1,2,3, Tokyo, Japan
2015 “NEO COUNTER SHAPE ART SHOW ‘GO'”, 1st Floor of Aoyama Spiral Garden, Tokyo, Japan
2014 “NEO COUNTER SHAPE ART SHOW Vol. 3”, SHIBUYA CUBE1,2,3, Tokyo, Japan
2013 “NEO COUNTER SHAPE ART SHOW”, SHIBUYA CUBE1,2,3, Tokyo, Japan
2013 “NEW CITY ART FAIR”, Chelsea, New York, USA
2010 “Shanghai World Expo Commemorative Prints” Exhibition, Shanghai World Expo, Shanghai, China
1998 “Era of Comics”, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo ·Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo · Hiroshima, Japan
Publication
2014 Art Book “Z30K” (BEAMS)
2013 Art Book “Vanrogh’s Honey” (RIKUYOSHA)
2011 Poetry Collection · Picture Book “To You as a First Grade Student” by Kaori EKUNI and Shingo IGUCHI (SHOGAKUKAN)
2007 Comic Book “Z CHAN LOTUS – Revised Edition” (SEIRINKOGEISHA)
2005 Picture Book “Vanrogh’s Tulip” (GAKKEN)
2001 Picture Book “Vanrogh’s Honey” (GAKKEN)
1999 Picture Book “Z CHAN Hole on the Wall” (Billiken)
1992 Comic Book “Z CHAN Rose” (SEIRINDO)
1989 Art Book “TULIP WATER” (21SEIGISHA+EDIX)
Performance
Art Work Exhibition (Tokyo FM Hall)
International Sports Festival (Yoyogi Arena)
P-MODEL Concert (Yurakucho Hall)
MANIFEST Exhibition (Aoyama Tokyo)
INKSTICK Roppongi (Roppongi Tokyo)