Design Festa is a biannual event held at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. It began in 1994 and just finished it’s 29th run – with over 2,600 booths this weekend. I was only able to go for one day but I made sure to see everything. It took me a full 7 hours to cover it all but my sense of accomplishment at the end was pretty rewarding…and I was just a viewer – the artists must be exhausted. I talked with hundreds of people (as much as I could, with my limited Japanese), took pictures, collected dozens of business cards and brochures, and now after much deliberation present to you my top picks (in no particular order):

Kiei Takano

Kiei uses electrical telephone wire on top of his paintings  - the piece on the top left contains over 300 meters of it! He also does classic painting in the Kano style in Kyoto. [contact] [website]

an ad by Takuma Furuya

Takuma Furuya uses everyday products like Kagome fruit and vegetable juices to create art – other items included Xylitol gum and Dr. Pepper. [contact]

Luna..Clip..

Karagon uses recycled products like cardboard, newspaper, and tissue paper to create his works. [contact]

Wasic, music + waste

Wasic makes environmentally conscious amps and speakers using old electric appliances, furniture, and other recycled waste. [contact]

Face mask art by Romaten

I thought these were pretty funny in light of the swine flu epidemic.

トイトイ by Jun Kawaguchi

I loved these Japanese pop culture collages by Jun Kawaguchi! [contact] [website]

Miyoko Tokita

Every face has a personality! I love the insecurity of the girls in this painting.

[contact] [website]

Wada Misako

Colorful and energetic paintings by Wada Misako. Definitely check out the the website, she has a great portfolio. [contact] [website]

Hand-painted umbrellas by Odanaotsugu

From the website it looks like he does some pretty cool installation art as well.

[contact] [website]

Eva Funderburgh’s Monsters

Cool sculptures by an American using traditional Japanese kilns. I would love to buy one if I was a bit wealthier! [website]

- Allison O’Connor