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)