TORAY ART GALLERY: DCA '98

DIGITAL CREATION AWARDS

Introduction of the Judges

Chairman of DCA Screening Committee	Katsuhiro Yamaguchi	Professor Emeritus of University of Tsukuba and Media Artist
Judge	Yoichiro Kawaguchi	Professor of University of Tokyo and CG artist
	Yojiro Shirakawa	HAKUHODO Inc. Manager, Multi-Media Advertising Development Department
	Kevin Meyerson	President of Rainbow Japan Inc.
	Norihiko Saitou	Toray Industries, Inc. General Manager, Corporate Communications Dept.

	Yoichiro Kawaguchi	Professor of University of Tokyo and CG artist
[Comment] As a judge, I could not help but be excited by so many dynamic works. I am sure that the most recent entries feature a broad variety of expressions and that their quality is drastically improved as well. In particular, the Grand Prize-winning "Imaginary House" provided a glimpse of the artistic potential that is out there by virtue of the powerful dynamism of its space composition and four-dimensional freshness. Even though it is a static work, it involves a dynamic rhythm whose creativity riveted my eyes. I hope to see how the artist's expressive potential develops in the future. It was quite hard to select the best work among the other competing entries as all were unique. I am sure all the artists who created them have wonderful potential and I am looking forward to seeing how their individual styles develop. [Biography] Yoichiro Kawaguchi, Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba. Computer graphics artist born in 1952 in Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Graduated Kyushu Institute of Design and received a master's degree from University of Tokyo Education. Recognized around the world for his computer graphics art, he has received many distinguished awards, including: Tokyo Techno Forum, Gold Medal Award L'OREAL Grand Prix, L'OREAL Art and Science Foundation. "COACERVATER" (CD-ROM and book) was published in 1994 by NTT Publishing. In 1998, "LUMINOUS VISION," a collection of Yoichiro Kawaguchi's Art, was published on video, DVD and laser disk by Odyssey of the U.S. Back to list of the Judges

	Yojiro Shirakawa	HAKUHODO Inc. Manager, Multi-Media Advertising Development Department
[Comment] This is the third DCA, and I'm amazed that both the quality and the quantity of the works keeps rising. I think there were many noteworthy pieces this year, particularly among those that took a multidimensional approach. What makes them noteworthy is that they express things from various viewpoints. For the work that won the grand prize, digital technology has been used to give concrete form to a structure imagined by the artist. This is a triumph for digital art; we experience the pleasure of being enveloped in the artist's creative world. The prizewinning works also include pieces where the photographer's vision and digital technology blend to create a work with greater depth. One of the attractions of the DCA is that it brings together many different people's visions. It's said that the universe of art knows no bounds, but by using digital technology, a field that is still new, we narrow the bounds just a bit. I'd like to see artists use enthusiasm, initiative, and inventiveness to break down this wall. It seems likely that they will carve out new territory, and I'm looking forward to that. [Biography] Graduated from Waseda University, Law Department Extensive experience in planning and production of films, plays and television programming. Key figure in establishment of New Media Department in 1980 at one of Japan's major advertising agencies. Oversees planning and production of software for video disks, cable television, satellite broadcasts, character broadcasting (for the hearing impaired), and high-vision as well as interactive video exhibition systems; directs production and publishing of video business. Currently involved with network-related business, including production of multimedia software systems for schools, Internet home pages and game software. Back to list of the Judges

	Kevin Meyerson	President of Rainbow Japan Inc.
[Comment] The Digital Creation Awards has become a real source of pride. The ever increasing number of wonderful entries has made the job of judging entries challenging to say the least. Currently the DCA has more entries than any other competition of its type in Japan. Especially pleasing was the large number of entries this year with excellent composition skills. In the coming year, I wish to invite more entries from overseas. The DCA has become one of the most respected and recognized competitions in Japan, and I hope that its name will grow globally as well. Kevin Meyerson Back to list of the Judges

	Norihiko Saitou	Toray Industries, Inc. General Manager, Corporate Communications Dept.
[Comment] This year's awards, compared with the first two years, attracted an increased number of contestants and entries of remarkably improved quality. In fact, the quality of the winning works demonstrated that computer graphics has reached the status of an art form, and that enhanced creativity and composition skills have increased the possibilities for using computer graphics as a medium of expression. I commend the judges, under the guidance of Chairman Yamaguchi, in cooperating to judge the works on a very open basis. They have inspired me to strive harder to improve my abilities as a judge. I am pleased that the awards have gained such respect and recognition, and I am anxious to see how this competition develops in the coming years. Back to list of the Judges

[ Review by the Chairman | Winning Entries Gallery | Introduction of the Judges ]

Copyright 1999 Toray Industries,Inc