GxBxT Exhibition Presents Hardcore Punk Exhibition Tokyo 31st March - 23rd April 2023
Sugi Poster design.
Tokyo Beams located in Shinjuku’s labyrinthine entertainment district is the setting for an extensive exhibit of international hardcore/punk paraphernalia. For the uninitiated it should be noted that it’s a popular lifestyle brand that sells a range of limited collectibles and unique items that depending on budget can range from the affordable to a small premium. Set to the backdrop of Izakaya’s, bars, clothing shops and Record stores including Disc Union, an essential record haunt (located right around the corner from this venue) As can be gleamed from the stated description, it is an area particularly popular with visiting tourists and the many denizens of Tokyo located in this district.
Downtown Shinjuku. Photo: Adam Farrar
Outside Galery B GxBxT. Hardcore Punk Exhibition at Beams. Photo: Adam Farrar
GxBxT (which stands for 頑張れ(Ganbatte, the Japanese phrase that means, 'do your best' or 'go for it') was originally started in New York's underground DIY community of tattooists, artists, musicians and skaters, eventually spreading it's collective influence to Japan, through various collaborations. The latest exhibition in central Tokyo features work by Alan Pirie (artist for Suicidal Tendencies) Alexander Heir (L.O.T.I.O.N./Survival) Dwid Hellion (Integrity) END (Flyer/poster artist) Gary Gilmore (Flyer/poster artist) GUY (Origin of M/Gudon) Kazuhiro Imai (Acidic Soil) Mike Gallo (Agnostic Front/Stigma) Naozi (Sculptor/flyer artist) Ric Clayton (Suicidal Tendencies/No Mercy) Shouzi Mighty Wolf (Angry Ducks) Steven Huie (Flyer artist & Tatooist) Akihiko Sugimoto (Aka Sugi, record cover & flyer artist) Naka Taisuke (Flyer artist) Vinnie Stigma (Agnostic Front) Yushi Takei (Tattooist and poster artist)
Exhibition entrance with, two illustrations by Guy, A Stigma Screenprint & Steven Huie Art. Photo: Adam Farrar
GxBxT succinctly curated a selection of international fine artists and illustrators from around the globe, each creative with a long history in DIY music circles. Many of the pieces featured here have become intrinsically associated with the bands they represent, such as the iconic Suicidal Tendencies bandana skull logo and the Integrity Ghoul face, like any good ‘branding’ the best kind is often the most simple or eye catching.
The exhibition room packed wall to wall with mixed media of all persuasions included sculptures, posters, prints and even shoes, leaving no visual stone unturned, while the back wall was flanked with a projection of live music, if I recall correctly the footage is taken from 1989’s SOS produced ‘Complete Death Live’ an essential document of the hardcore punk scene in Japan at the time. The projection goes some way to show the excitement and energy, happening at many venues throughout the bigger cities of Japan during the 1980's. Many of the featured artists choose to place firm focus on eye grabbing imagery & striking line and ink work, as a result we are presented with a particularly outstanding body of design to showcase that. They say 'like find alike' & I was in the company of like minded kin as an illustrator who is particularly drawn to fine art and illustration of this type.
Projected footage from 1989's 'Complete Death Live'. Photo: Adam Farrar
A number of artworks featured at the show. Photo: Adam Farrar
Overview of the show. Photo: Adam Farrar
Some of the earliest memories I have attached with music were formed from the visual associations I had with the albums I was listening to and that association in turn gave many bands their internationally recognised identity’s, for example 1946’s Crimson Ghost directed by Fred C. Brannon & William Witney had its iconic villain co opted by New York band Misfits which also in turn became intrinsically intwined with their music. The same can be said of illustrator Raymond Petition who’s melding of violent Americana, jingoism and religion form the subject of many of Black Flag’s cover art and iconic flyers revealing the uglier sides of the U.S. coupled with the bleak intense fatalism of their music which also became a part of their visual identity.
In the past ten years I have been fortunate enough to visit many superbly curated exhibitions documenting musical content in various forms, visually as well as audibly, however the one element that unites every one of these shows, is the strength of scope and imagination contained within DIY circles found in every corner of the planet.
While Initially Japans DIY punk scene was somewhat of a microcosm it quickly spread throughout the cities & suburbs of the country with feverish intensity and that in turn captured the minds of local creatives looking for an outlet to share their music or at least the potential to present their creativity to individuals on the same wave length as one another. Along with the great cross section of artists that feature in this exhibit, it must be noted that it shows a relatively small amount of designers that would become intrinsically entangled in this movement. Tadanori Yokoo is one such artist. Most notably he masterminded the cover design for the Japanese edition of Gastunk’s magnum opus of hardcore & metal, 1987’s ‘Under The Sun’ with its figurative objects cutting mysterious abstract images across the sleeve art while angular luminescent shapes bleed colour one into the other.
It’s also worth discussing pioneering master of the macabre, Suehiro Maruo, whose work in manga has become influential to a whole generation of artists. His work has graced albums by bands as diverse as The Stalin (& Michiro Endo side projects) Balzac, Auto-Mod, Kyōakukyōjindan and many more. I personally highly rate the piece he created for Assfort’s ‘Free Punk Customize Kit’ LP with its mix of imagery observing nods to Wizard of Oz and World War II with bold colours framing the illustration in a striking and surreal way, ultimately this piece left a longstanding impression on me.
A collection of flyers and art created by Sugi. Photo: Adam Farrar
Before discussing the exhibition highlights in greater detail, no discussion on this subject can be complete without mentioning Yokohama Shigehisa (known to most people as Sakevi, lead singer of Punk Metal antagonists GISM)
His terrifying collage work has become as inspirational as the illustrations & collages of Gee Vaucher (certainly she has influenced Sakevi in many aspects) both artists are often imitated but rarely equaled. Known for his intimidating and unapologetic style that reveal the horrors of war, consumerist fantasies and well worn cliches that almost become redundant after their continued use, many crust and hardcore bands that were started in the wake of GISM owe a lot to the sound and imagery pioneered by Sakevi, that influence, even in modern times appears to continue to have no let up.
Historically Japan is a country overflowing with creative individuals, as evidenced by Doujinshi (Self publishing) model making and DIY music scenes to name but a few of the important communities that operate on little to no profit margins with the pay off purely in the aspects that connect like minded audiences with their creators.
The artists mentioned here are just another small insight into the many creatives that have championed DIY creativity while this current exhibition also crosses the line between musicians actively participating within bands & those who have gravitated towards design work within it.
Illustrations by Sugi (left) & Alan Pirie (right). Photo: Adam Farrar
Continuing Alan Pirie's illustrations (centre). Photo: Adam Farrar
Kazuhiro Imai overview. Photo: Adam Farrar
Naka Taisuke Poster illustrations. Photo: Adam Farrar
Original 'My Meat Is Your Poison' illustration by Guy. Photo: Adam Farrar
As the postscript to this article I wanted to address some personal highlights featured in this show including (Gudon/Origin of M) Guy’s original cover illustraiton for 1987’s seminal hardcore punk compilation ‘My Meat’s Your Poison’ featuring some of the fastest bands around at the time including Outo, Chicken Bowels, Systematic Death, Gudon, S.O.B & Lip Cream! Witnessing this piece felt like a particularly striking moment for me as an illustrator and long time admirer of this album. The great cross section of Sugi’s decades of illustrative influence in worldwide punk & hardcore circles drawing your eye into the back centre of the room was also a further high point of the show. I have always been fascinated by minute details & artwork that requires you to take more than one viewing in order to ascertain a good understanding of the subject matter and certainly Sugi is a master of his craft drawing on visual themes including nuclear fallout, the dangers of war, famine and environmental destruction. Demonic effigies & Japanese history also coalesce in many of the depictions using thick pen lines and negative space to full effect.
Shouzi Mighty Wolf illustrations. Photo: Adam Farrar
A selection of illustrations by Steven Huie Photo: Adam Farrar
A spin on traditional Japanese footwear, a collaboration between GxBxT & Zoriya. Photo: Adam Farrar
Motörhead 'War-Pig' sculpture by Naozi based on Joe Petango's original design. Photo: Adam Farrar
Plate illustration by Naozi. Photo: Adam Farrar
Illustrations by Ric Clayton, Alexander Heir & Yushi Horikichi. Photo: Adam Farrar
Naozi ceramic tile illustrations. NYHC by Mike Gallo. Photo: Adam Farrar
Overview of the items displayed by Naozi . Photo: Adam Farrar
Gary Gilmore Gig posters. Photo: Adam Farrar
Stigma 'Victim in Pain' screen-printed live shot. Photo: Adam Farrar
A Selection of show posters for NYHC and Japanese bands by End. Photo: Adam Farrar
Poster by End 'All Ages Hardcore'. Photo: Adam Farrar
Alternative inking for the 'All Ages Hardcore' Poster by End. Photo: Adam Farrar
Overview taken at the show. Video: Adam Farrar
As a subscript to this show, it’s worth saying that a trip to Shinjuku isn’t really complete without some record digging so I set about to rectify that by making a stop at the local Disc Union (situated just across the road from Beams) for anyone that knows me personally, it’s no secret that I’m a Japanese music enthusiast, accordingly I spent a couple of hours, digging through racks of classic titles/contemporary slabs, bargain titles and rare items, some of which I have never seen in person, that is not to mention the vast selection of interesting display items and merchandise also on sale. I possibly purchased too many records and CD's (as my groaning luggage can attest to) However if you are looking for a place with great service and carefully sourced records, then I highly recommend a visit to Disc Union. As par for the course at these stores, the staff were particulary helpful. Here are a few photo's taken from that visit.
Disc Union (Shinjuku Branch) Photo: Adam Farrar
A Kyushu classic found in Disc Union. Photo: Adam Farrar
A selection of titles on sale at Disc Union. Photo: Adam Farrar
Collectable mask for the influential ADK record label. Photo: Adam Farrar
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