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1960 31 years old |
| In April, his son Ken was born. |
| In May the International Design Conference was held in Tokyo for the first time. Impressed by Herbert Beyer's lecture and influenced by the general theme of the conference, "From Graphic Design to Visual Communication", Awazu's design activities became grounded in visual design and visual communication during the first half of the 1960's. (Later, Awazu systematized and theorized the purport and linguistic functions of visualization and published a paper, shikaku-dentatsu josetsu (Introduction to Visual Communication 1964.) |
| Six architects, Takashi Asada, Masato Otaka, Fumihiko Maki, Kiyonori Kikutake, Kisho Kurokawa and Noboru Kawazoe, used the biology term "metabolism" to conceptualize their works. Interpreting metropolis as a living organism, the group crossbred biological and ecological perspectives to establish a new image of metropolis. Awazu joined this architectural group and produced an illustration series named "Metabolism". |
| Released a proposal for lateral composition of newspapers. |
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1961 32 years old |
In April, he started lectures on illustration and basic design at the Kuwazawa Design Institute.
Designed posters for movies such as "Shiiku" (directed by Nagisa Oshima) and "Nishijin" (directed by Toshio Matsumoto.)
Awazu started magazine and book design. He was greatly influenced by Lautreamont's "The Songs of Maldoror" (translated by Isamu Kurita, published by Shincho-sha).
On the special issue of magazine "Design" featuring George Keeps, Awazu published an article named "muyo no yo" (Usefulness of a Useless Thing). This article, in which Awazu relentlessly discussed his visual-linguistic experiences, established a foundation for his later paper "shikaku dentatsu josetsu" (Introduction to Visual Communication).
In December, with designer Kohei Sugiura, he produced a photographic book "DOCUMENT 61 Hiroshima Nagasaki" containing works of photographers Ken Domon and Shomei Tomatsu. |
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1962 33 years old |
́Nissenbi (Japan Advertising Artist's Club) began setting two different categories "My Works" and "My Proposals" for its contest applications. This originated in Awazu's earlier proposition for "lateral composition of newspapers." (1960)
In July, he designed the poster and the title credit for movie "Otoshiana" (Pitfall) directed by Hiroshi Teshigawara.
In October, American composer John Cage visited Japan and held concerts at Sogetsu Hall and other venues. Awazu took a strong interest in Cage's coincidental music including compositions "Chance Operation". |
Influenced by the ideas of anthropologist Kunio Yanagida, Awazu introduced folk materials such as maps, stamps and compasses in his design works.
He submitted a catalog to the Milan Triennale, and received the Silver Award.
During this year and the following year, with architect Kiyonori Kikutake, Awazu designed the steel door of the Izumo Shrine. This was his first architectural project.
Kiyonori Kikutake, Noboru Kawazoe and Awazu collaborated to hold the "Mirai no Toshi Ten" (Future Metropolis) Exhibit at the Seibu Department Store. |
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1964 35 years old |
Awazu Design Room was established in Harajuku, Tokyo.
In April, he became an Associate Professor at Musashino Art University. He published his paper "Introduction to Visual Communication" in a university publication.
Awazu designed movie posters for "Kwaidan", "Woman in the Dune" and "Subarashiki Akujo".
Awazu started creating areas of contoured lines in his design work, and this led to environmental design. With architect Kiyonori Kikutake, Awazu worked on the interior design of the room in the Tokoen, and on the panel and relief design at the Teishin Sogo Hakubutsukan. (TEI Park ; Communications museum, Tokyo).
In November, John Cage returned to Japan as a music director for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. (The art director was Robert Rauschenberg.) Awazu was again deeply impressed by this crossbred program. |
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1965 36 years old |
In June, Awazu was invited to the World Design Conference in Aspen, Colorado. This is his first time in America and he spent 2 months on an architectural tour.
He produced murals and designed the inside yard for Tsuyama Cultural Center whose design theme was stylized with the "areas made by groups of contoured lines" and was reminiscent of Awazu's steel gate at the Izumo Shrine. |
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1966 37 years old |
Aiming for the expansion of design's possibilities, Awazu suggested the "Group of Environment" be formally organized. In November, the group sponsored the first exhibit called "From Space to Environment" at the Matsuya Department Store in Tokyo. The exhibit was a synthesis of various avant-garde artists and its participants included critic Shuzo Takiguchi, artists Aio and Jiro Takamatsu, industrial designer Shinya Izumi, photographers Ikko Narahara, Seiji Ootsuji, architect Arata Isozaki and composer Toshi Ichiyanagi.
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1967 38 years old |
Completed the wall relief at the Rinkai Kogyo Center in Sakai, Osaka. As in the previous series of environmental design for the Izumo Shrine and the Tsuyama Cultural Center, the relief design contained many biographical images.
He laid out the basic concept for the playground at the EXPO '70 held in Osaka and designed a jet coaster named "Daidarasaurs". |
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1968 39 years old |
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Awazu became an editor in chief for "Design Hihyo", a magazine published by Fudo-sha Co., in collaboration with Ichiro Haryu, Noboru Kawazoe, Shinya Izumi and Hiroshi Hara.
In April, with "Design Hihyo Magazine" and Sogetsu Art Center, he co-sponsored a 5-day symposium named "EXPOSE 1968: Tell me something, I'll find it now." in Tokyo. The symposium demonstrated the integration of 2- and 3- dimensional contemporary art elements and included lights, sound, films, acting, lectures, television, performances, exhibits, poetry reading and psychedelic shows.
In June, at Sogetsu Kaikan, he showed a film, "Holiday on Print", using eight projectors.
In October, he exhibited "Environment 'A' for Four Projections" at the Kyoto National Modern Art Museum. Awazu's groping for communication through film later developed into his trials in more synthesized art forms such as movies and theater.
Awazu expanded his works into many different genres such as poster, magazine and book design. This year, he began designing posters for Bungakuza. "Glass Menagerie" and "Utukushiki Monono Densetsu" were the first two of his posters for this theatrical troop. He also acquired one year contracts to design covers for Hoso Asahi and Automobiles and its World magazines.
Awazu became involved with Tenjo Sajiki Theatrical Troop led by Shuji Terayama and designed the Tenjo Sajiki Theater with help from designers Ryoichi Enomoto and Ikuyoshi Shibukawa, students at Musashino Art University.
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1969 40 years old |
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For Asahi Journal Magazine's feature articles titled "Anti-EXPO 70", art critic Ichiro Haryu wrote his piece criticizing EXPO '70 and artists who are involved in this project, and became a central figure in the movement against EXPO. This matter had repercussions in the magazine "Design Hihyo" and Awazu decided to discontinue the publication. |
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