季刊芸術 by Kiyoshi Awazu
This magazine cover was designed by Kiyoshi Awazu in 1970 for Kikan Geijutsu (季刊藝術). A suited man appears with his hand covering his face. Inside the hand are many colorful stamp-like circles, which look like Japanese personal seals (hanko). Each one contains a kanji character, giving the feeling of identity. The rainbow lines in the background and the bright tie add surreal feeling. By covering the man’s face with this patterned hand, this may be suggesting that individual identity is hidden or erased in the society. Also, this design used symbols from Japanese tradition or pop culture.
