Chapter Commentaries 12

In recent years, we have seen Uno's connections to the music world strengthen. In the past (1968), the artist produced the five-man band, The Floral, and leaping to the 2000s, Uno created the poster for the rock band SHAKALABBITS, as well as tour merchandise for BUCK-TICK and Ringo Sheena. Through these, Uno's illustrations continue to be appreciated by people of all ages.

The artist has also collaborated with corporations for whom young women are the targer. In 2014, Uno created the main visual for the "Museum of the Imaginary Department Store at 2014 Isetan Irodorisai (ISETAN Shinjuku store): In 2016, he designed facial parts for the caricature generator "Majoriga" for Shiseido's MAJOLICA MAJORCA brand. In 2022, Uno worked with Disney Store to launch Disney Princess merchandise featuring his signature ennui-style.

Uno enjoys writing haiku under the pen name of Satei, and he has begun releasing new works inspired by haiku. He is currently drawing pieces on themes from the haiku of Shuji Terayama and others. Using special printing designs of Junko Tsuda, editor-in-chief of Design no bikidashi (Design Drawer), a publication of Graphic-sha Publishing, Unos work has obtained new levels of appeal and creative possibility. The works have been shown at ginza graphic gallery (2022) and at the Ichigaya Letterpress Factory (2023). Uno is amused and intrigued that new expression has emerged from printing technique rather than the reproduction of the pictures, and we imagine that he anticipates further expansion of the world of his artistic expression. Since 1999, Uno has been working on exhibits he has curated, but he is now heading in new directions, having accepted the pleasure of his new position as the one whose work is being planned by others for exhibit.