What if you could completely change the feel of a space without making major changes or remodeling?
A poster hanging on the wall can make this happen. It's amazing how it can give expression to a dull wall and give the entire space a three-dimensional feel. Most posters are made to advertise something, so they are more casual than paintings or photographs. That's why they blend in seamlessly with the interior without being too assertive.
And when you need a poster, the go-to shop is the poster specialty store "Knapford Poster Market." The lineup and high level of sensitivity collected from all over the world are impressive.
The shop opened about 10 years ago. Initially, the younger brother, Keita Inoue, started the business as the owner, and then Kyota was asked to help out.
"My interest in posters started with my younger brother. I'm a DIY enthusiast, and when I was thinking about decorating my house, I felt like something was missing from the walls. I wanted to hang posters, but I couldn't find any. Then I heard that an acquaintance of mine had ordered some from overseas. I thought that if I could do that, I wanted to spread poster culture in Japan."
The name of the shop, Knapford, comes from the fictional station name that appears in the cartoon "Thomas the Tank Engine," which my nephew often watched at the time. It's a heartwarming story that reflects my nephew's hope that "I'd like to open a shop in Knapford one day."
The posters they handle cover a wide range of genres, from old movies to exhibitions from art museums overseas, solo exhibitions by unknown artists, and rock star concerts.
"I wasn't originally knowledgeable about art, but my brother's main job was web design, so we started researching posters together and found them fascinating. At first it was an online shop, but then we opened a brick-and-mortar store together, and my brother took over his wife's family business, so now I'm running it alone.
What we like is not only cool graphics, but also things that capture the atmosphere of the time. We especially love French movie posters. Even for American movies, we love the way posters are displayed in France. Also, even paintings by famous artists like Matisse and Picasso have the date and location of the exhibition written on them, which makes them interesting as posters. This is also true for flyers and invitations, but advertising materials in general known as ephemera have a precious quality, as they were made specifically for that occasion. We want to preserve them for future generations.
For example, the poster for Mick Jagger's 1988 live concert in Japan is based on Andy Warhol's " Bad Boy " silkscreen series, but the text includes the words " BIGEGG ," the old name for Tokyo Dome. Discovering this sense of the era is one of the highlights.
There are some Japanese posters in the lineup, but the items are mainly sourced from Europe, including France, Germany, and Italy.
"At first, we didn't know anything, so after arriving, we spent the first one or two days walking around the city looking for things. Art has been deeply rooted in Europe since ancient times, so there are lots of small galleries here and there, and when young, unknown artists hold solo exhibitions, they make posters and distribute them in cafes. We visited galleries to see old items, visited collectors, and went to specialty stores. Vintage paper items are usually folded and piled up, so to the untrained eye, it's impossible to tell what's where (laughs)."
Thanks to the routes that we have developed independently, we are now able to make purchases without necessarily having to go overseas.
"It's all thanks to the connections I've built up over the past 10 years. I'm still waiting for the item I ordered from a shop specialising in French film posters. In France, the items don't even arrive on the promised date (laughs). But it's only when you're there that you can find great bargains. Once, I wandered into a vintage furniture store in Denmark and found a large lithograph poster by an artist called Per Arnoldi. The graphics and colours were amazing, and I got goosebumps when I found it."
While it's fun to search for something you like, opening the package that arrives is also a happy moment, "The smell of old paper, the excitement when you see the whole thing, it's the best," says Inoue. He is a die-hard poster enthusiast, saying, "I also like to feel the presence" when he stands behind a wall decorated with posters.
There are still very few poster specialty stores in Japan, but posters are gaining attention as an accessible form of art.
" I really feel that the number of people who like posters has increased over the past 10 years. It's nice to think that poster culture has taken root in Japan, but on the other hand, the information we post on social media may be misused. We live in a world where even individuals can easily obtain posters online. But in the future, when people want to be more particular about the frame or find something more unique, that's when specialty stores will come in. Right now, I think we're just sowing the seeds, and we just need to continue steadily."
Over the 10 years we have been in business, our motto has remained constant: posters as interior décor.
"I generally suggest framing the poster before handing it over. Framing is an important aspect of making the poster stand out, but it takes time and effort, and it's hard to choose one unless you're used to it. I love the moment when you match the frame with the poster, and the sense of fulfillment when it fits perfectly is incredible. I still place importance on design when choosing posters, just like I did 10 years ago, but now I've started to dig deeper into the finer details, such as printing details and color nuances. When I hold the same poster I did 10 years ago, I feel like my perspective has changed."
He says that becoming a father two years ago has given him a new perspective.
"I've started to notice things with pop colors that kids love. I have some on display at home, and it makes me happy when my son says, 'I want to go to your company (because I want to see the posters)'. The colors of the clothes and toys that parents give them are often completely different from the colors that he himself chooses, and I think it's interesting how different people's tastes are."
ARF carefully selects from its wide selection of items to suit restaurants. For example, posters by Rudolf Englert, a German avant-garde artist not particularly well known in Japan, are appealing with their rhythmic composition reminiscent of musical scores and minimalist use of color. They create a sophisticated impression even in limited spaces.
This poster by Georges Braque, a French painter known as one of the founders of Cubism along with Picasso, features a signature bird motif and would look great in a contemporary, relaxed space.
Another poster using Henri Matisse's paper-cutting motif was used to announce the "Artist and Book" exhibition at a German art museum in the 1960s . " Jazz " It is a quote from the book and is sure to create a bright and lively atmosphere in the space.
"Even if it's a restaurant or bistro, it 's basically OK to choose items in the same way as you would for your home . However, the theme of the space may be stronger than for a personal room. This time, we have prepared items to meet the request that ARF propose "stylish items that can be casually displayed rather than major items."
Even the designs that use well-known Andy Warhol paintings feature data arranged in a way that looks like it was torn off a ticket, and are combined with a strong German font, giving them a slightly different impression from American pop art. I think they would all look good at a bright, sunny lunchtime or a dimly lit dinnertime.
