Ikko Tanaka

Incorporating Traditional Art in Modern Design

Prepared by Myles Mosley

Background
Ikko Tanaka has been renowned as one of the best graphic designers in

Japan’s history.

Born in 1930 in the city of Nara (the nation’s ancestral capital), from a young

age, he started to study art. By young adulthood, he became involved in

theatrical groups centered around modern dramatics.

“Noh Performance”

1. Starting in 1958, Ikko began a series of posters for the Kanze Noh

Theater.

2. To the right is “Noh Performance,” the first in the series.

3. Displayed is a high-contrast photograph of a noh theater mask

encompassed in a geometric pattern of muted calm colors.

“Nihon Buyo”
1. “Nihon Buyo” is one of the posters he created for the Noh theater,

and is also seen as one of his most iconic posters.

2. Using inspiration from traditional japanese art and the geometric

shapes akin to modern design; this is one clear example of his

design mastery.

1
Tokyo 1964

1. In 1964 Ikko Tanaka alongside Yusaku Kamekura created the poster

design for the Tokyo Olympics.

2. These posters generated the first japanese graphic designs to gain

international fame.

My Inspired Poster

1. For the design of my poster I borrowed many of the concepts Ikko

Tanaka uses in many of his posters.

2. He tends to use flowing lines and patterns that move across the

poster creating the appearance of depth.

3. Another common occurrence is the over saturation and color burn

he adds to some of his work.

4. I also incorporated his affinity to use only cut-outs of human faces.

5. The lips are a direct reference to the specific look created by linear burn over the lips of

the Noh masks.

2
References

1. https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/thgraph/tanaka_ikko_1930_2002/0
2. https://bi.gale.com/global/article/GALE%7CA82130338?u=morenetsccol&sid=ebsco
3. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GIC&u=morenetsccol&id=GALE%7CA448588927&v=2.1&it
=r&sid=ebsco
4. https://go.distance.ncsu.edu/gd203/?p=24754
5. http://adcglobal.org/hall-of-fame/ikko-tanaka/