Nanako Ueda, Nikita Gavrilenko: Poster Fighter

Poster Fighter, a poster exhibition by Nanako Ueda (Japan) and Nikita Gavrilenko (Kazakhstan), draws inspiration from medieval Asian nomadic and Japanese warriors and martial arts. The posters, in this context, are used as metaphorical fighting weapons. In addition to explore artistic and political themes, the exhibition aims to popularize posters as a medium.

For ten thousand years, lonely, blind warriors, tired but resolute, travel across Yakenohara–the “burnt field”. They are lonely because the path of a warrior is solitary. They are blind because they strive to be impartial and fair. Their weapons carve whispers into the ash-covered soil —not to destroy but to protect those who cannot defend themselves.

The exhibition features seven posters—three from each artist—and one collaborative piece. Nanako Ueda communicates without words, creating optical illusions by mastering the use of space. Nikita Gavrilenko’s works blend typography and photo collages, often adopting an aggressively expressive tone and exploring tense compositions. The exhibition demonstrates how deeply our weapons can cut through the “flesh” of societal and personal issues, offering viewers a chance to find reflections of their own experiences. Both artists’ works have been recognized in numerous poster competitions worldwide, reflecting the global resonance of their work.

“We believe that posters are undergoing a renaissance and serve as a powerful weapon in a designer’s creative arsenal. For many designers, posters act as a starting point when creating visual identities and other graphical assets. For design students, posters are a primary experimental canvas. For the audience, we want posters to transcend their common role as cold, direct communication tools filled with corporate and advertising discourse designed purely for consumption. Instead, we hope they serve as a source of inspiration, sparking thought and dreams. During this time of year, we want these posters to warm you and provide a small slice of hope.”   –Nanako Ueda & Nikita Gavrilenko

Nikita Gavrilenko is a visual designer and photographer originally from Astana, Kazakhstan, now based in Espoo, Finland. With a background in Aeronautical Engineering and Industrial Management, his passion for arts has guided him to a creative career. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Visual Communication Design at Aalto University.

As a freelance designer Gavrilenko specialises in visual identities, editorial design, posters, animations, and social media graphics, often collaborating with artists, cultural institutions, and researchers. His posters have been recognized in international competitions, and he was shortlisted for the Young Creatives’ Award at Vuoden Huiput in 2021.

His artistic style often blends collages of processed photographs and graphics with experimental typography. Recently, he has been exploring type design, animation, and generative design, pushing the boundaries of his creative practice.

Nanako Ueda is a visual artist, graphic designer, and illustrator from Toyama, Japan, currently based in Espoo, Finland. After an exchange year at the Lahti Institute of Design in 2008-2009, she returned to Finland in 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree in Visual Communication Design at Aalto University. Before this, Nanako worked 11 years as a design expert for a local government in Japan.

Ueda’s posters have received recognition in various international competitions. Beyond design, she explores her passion for Japanese cuisine through her Instagram project @ramen_poliisi, which was shortlisted in the Wild Card category at Vuoden Huiput 2023 competition

Her artistic approach seeks to transcend language barriers, using perceptive observation. She is interested in the responsibilities of visual representation, and her current master’s thesis explores Latin-character typography in relation to cultural stereotypes.