DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
TH : All my works are based on Japanese beauty. I aim to create works that are quiet, do not interfere with others, and make the surrounding air fresh.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
TH : I created works in search of the beauty of bamboo forests. As a result, I found that the characteristic shape of bamboo is more important than color, and I pursued a style that can express it more strongly.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
TH : I plan to express the beauty of Japan that I feel in various ways with the bamboo forests as a motif.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
TH : It took about 3 years from the time I first took photos of the bamboo forests until I reached this work.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
TH : Ⅰ started studying photography by myself, in earnest in 2011 when Japan suffered from the huge earthquake disaster. Through the earthquake I understood that the beautiful sceneries are not eternal but actually very fragile, and noticed the importance of taking photos of the Japanese beauty.
I wish to express the world of traditional Japanese paintings and ink paintings with modern Japanese sensibility and the photo technology. For the past few years I’ve produced the works in the motif of bamboo, which can be associated with Japan.
The chinese character used in my first name “Takeo” means “bamboo man”, and that is one of the reason why I chose the motif.
The soaring stalks and regular joints are really beautiful. Moreover, bamboo is considered to be an auspicious plant because it grows very fast and straight upwards. So it has been the traditional subject of paintings in Japan.
I think the distinctive characteristics of bamboo are even more attractive in monochrome images using the modern techniques of photography.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
TH : I plan to sell the works by myself.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
TH : I wish to express the world of traditional Japanese paintings and ink paintings with modern Japanese sensibility and the photo technology.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
TH : My works are influenced by famous Japanese painters of centuries ago, such as Hokusai, Hasegawa Tohaku, Ogata Korin, Ito Jakuchu etc.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
TH : I wish to deliver my works to foreign people who love Japanese culture and lifestyle.
I wish to have my works displayed at Japanese cuisine restaurants, hotels, and Japanese style living rooms.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
TH : There are many photos of Japanese bamboo forests. It is beautiful, but my works try to concentrate on expressing immortal Japanese beauty.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
TH : The subtitle of the works is “Skyscrapers”. The scenery reminds me of ancient skyscrapers in Japan.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
TH : I used Sony’s α99 mk2, photoshop, and Dell’s 8k display monitor.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
TH : Expressing traditional Japanese beauty with simple colors and designs.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
TH : I create these works by myself.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
TH : High resolution using a state-of-the-art camera, width of expression by Photoshop, expression of resolution and perspective by 8K monitor, all of these are utilized in these works creation.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
TH : My works is not influenced by data or analytical research.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
TH : The most challenging point was how to bring the photographed landscape of the bamboo forest closer to the image I wanted to create.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
TH : I wanted many overseas people to see my works, so I chose international and large-scale photo contests and submitted my works.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
TH : Through the creation, I was able to reaffirm the beauty of bamboo forests. In addition, I was able to acquire the effort to expand the range of my photo expressions.