The Tokyoiter Exhibition, a tribute to Tokyo and its rich culture, heritage and artistic expression in the style of The Tokyoiter magazine covers, unfolds from 20th January to 4th February 2024 at temu house.

A warm thank you for everyone’s submission for The Tokyoiter Exhibition! We’re thrilled to announce the selection of 5 outstanding artworks from talented artists across Malaysia through our recent Open Call.

1. Encapsulating Humans of Tokyo by Chien Shyan Lee
2. Suica by Yean Junn Tseng
3. Tokyo Groove by Cawand Dien
4. Take A Spin by Sophia Tan
5. Not Just For The Young by Chew Yuin-Y

These 5 tributes will be exhibited with a small selection of the existing works from The Tokyoiter collection of imaginary magazine covers, together with another 25 from the existing collection only available for viewing online.

Guided by Andrew Joyce and David Robert, The Tokyoiter draws inspiration from The New Yorker and The Parisianer, uniting a community of illustration enthusiasts passionate about Tokyo’s unique narratives. This project pays a heartfelt homage to Tokyo’s vibrant culture, heritage, and artistic expression through imaginative magazine cover tributes, offering a captivating glimpse into the city’s diverse stories.

The initiative kicked off with an open call in November 2023. All five selected artworks, crafted by Malaysian artists, underwent rigorous evaluation by art experts CC Kua, Kenta Chai, Andrew Joyce, and David Robert, setting the stage for an enriching exhibition experience.

Encapsulating Humans of Tokyo by Chien Shyan Lee

Suica by Yean Junn Tseng

Take A Spin by Sophia Tan

Tokyo Groove by Cawand Dien

Not Just For The Young by Chew Yuin-Y

 SHARING SESSION 

As part of The Tokyoiter Exhibition, the Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur is collaborating with temu house to co-organise a conversation with The Tokyoiter Exhibition judges, Andrew Joyce & David Robert (The Tokyoiter), CC Kua (KL-based visual artist, illustrator and graphic designer) and Kenta Chai (graphic designer of KentaWorks Design).

Join us for a Sunday afternoon chat with the judges of The Tokyoiter Exhibition as they share about the judging process and their thoughts on form vs function and explore the fictional The Kuala Lumpurian.

The session is free and is open to the public, but with very limited seating. So, register to save yourself a seat.

Session Information

Date: 21 January 2024 (Sunday)

Time: 3:00PM – 4:00PM

Venue: temu house (49, Jalan 16/9e, Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia)

Admission: FREE Admission by registering via https://forms.gle/fUwG2uqULzK8Y7KC9

 JUDGES’ BIO 

About CC Kua  CC Kua (b. 1991, Kedah, Malaysia) is a visual artist, graphic designer and lecturer based in Kuala Lumpur. She obtained a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and Illustration from The One Academy (degree conferred by the University of Hertfordshire) before pursuing a Master of Fine Arts from the Graduate Institute of Plastic Arts at Tainan National University of the Arts, Taiwan. She works primarily in contemporary painting and drawing. CC thinks there are three kinds of people: those who use soap, those who use body shampoo, and those who don’t shower at all. Her debut solo exhibition was Mosquito Bite in 2016, followed by Left A Bit, Right A Bit, Up A Bit, Down A Bit in 2019, both at Lostgens’ Contemporary Art Space, Kuala Lumpur. In 2020, she was selected for the Southeast Asian Arts Residency Programme at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia. Shortly after, she had her third solo exhibition, featuring works produced during the residency, titled All By Myself at The Back Room, Kuala Lumpur (2020). In 2022, she was one of the 31 artists who got selected to be part of the inaugural ILHAM Art Show 2022. Her works have also been selected for group exhibitions around Kuala Lumpur and Taipei. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cc_kua/   About Kenta Chai  Kenta Chai is the founder and creative director of KentaWorks Graphic, a design studio based in Kuala Lumpur with a keen focus on the arts and cultural sector. He works closely with a diverse clientele across Malaysia and Southeast Asia, including artists, curators, art collectors, private galleries, and public institutions. Kenta is dedicated to combining aesthetic brilliance with effective communication. He has significant experience in the industry and is committed to providing exceptional services. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenta.works/

About The Tokyoiter From a small street in the shadow of the SkyTree to a wave of Koinobori and the colourful rockers of Yoyogi park, each cover of The Tokyoiter is a testimony of what makes Tokyo such a fascinating place to live and experience. Created and curated by UK-based illustrator Andrew Joyce and David Robert, an art directo r living in Tokyo, The Tokyoiter is a collection of covers for an imaginary magazine. Inspired by The New Yorker, it presents Tokyo under the unique point of view of talented illustrators. Since 2015, more than 100 illustrators from Japan and around the world have contributed to The Tokyoiter. We are happy to present a selection of these covers in partnership with the Japan Foundation in Kuala Lumpur. The Tokyoiter aims to celebrate illustration, cartooning, drawing, design, creativity… and Tokyo. All covers can be seen at www.thetokyoiter.com and on social media @thetokyoiter.   Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thetokyoiter/

The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), is delighted to announce an open call for The Tokyoiter Exhibition. This event invites talented Malaysian artists and creatives to celebrate Tokyo’s vibrant city and its residents’ captivating stories through illustration.  

• Andrew Joyce & David Robert (The Tokyoiter)
• Kenta Chai (Graphic Designer, KentaWorks Graphic)
• CC Kua (Kuala Lumpur-based Visual Artist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer)

  APPLICATION DEADLINE  
10 December 2023

  SCHEDULE  

 THEME 

A tribute to Tokyo, in the format of The Tokyoiter magazine covers.
(The brand template and format, The Tokyoiter, is provided below)

  ELIGIBILITY  

• Open to Malaysian artists, designers, illustrators and creatives, currently based in Malaysia, aged 18 years and above as of 1 January 2023. 
• Submitted artwork must be from someone who has spent some time in Tokyo (a short-term stay is also considered eligible) 
• Kindly attach a photo of when you were there, in Tokyo.
  (For further assistance or enquiries, kindly email us for other ways to verify this information) 

  IMPPORTANT DESIGN GUIDELINES  

• Design size: 300mm x 400mm (Kindly use the template given HERE)
• Resolution: 300 dpi 
• Outline text in the design 
• Submission format: Hi-resolution PSD or PDF file 
• Designs must be original and free of copyright issues 
• Avoid “cliché” images of Japan 

Privacy and Usage: 

Personal data obtained from applicants may be used for administrative and PR purposes related to the contest.

  APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS  
Submit the Entry Form and your artwork to the Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur via e-mail at thejapanfoundationkl@gmail.com by 10 December 2023, Sunday (11:59pm).

• Each participant can submit one design only. 
• Email attachments should not exceed a total of 3MB, which includes the Entry Form. 
• If attachments exceed 3MB, you may upload files to a file-sharing service or personal server and include the link in the submission email.
• Call Out Guideline (PDF) 
• Entry Form (Word)
• The TOKYOITER Template (PSD)

  CONTACT AND INQUIRIES  

The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur
Cultural Affairs Department
18th Floor, Northpoint Block B, Mid-Valley City,
No. 1, Medan Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 – 2284 6228
FAX: 03 – 2287 5859
Email: thejapanfoundationkl@gmail.com