The Prelude Exhibition of The First Shanghai Graphic Design Biennale – TopoPoster: International Poster Design Exhibition, after six months (June – December, 2025) of planning and preparation, was successfully held from December 13 to December 22, 2025. As one of the larger-scale exhibitions in recent years featuring an international selection of works in China, it showcased over 300 representative poster designs from 153 influential contemporary designers and studios active in the forefront of the field across 28 countries.

Wokuをく

This poster was designed for a discreetly located restaurant tucked away in Kawaramachi, Kyoto. A place one would be unlikely to reach without prior knowledge, the restaurant’s logo takes the form of a hand inviting the viewer inward—toward the oku (the inner depths).

Inspired by the gestures of Shinto priests and Buddhist clergy, the logo carries a slightly enigmatic, even uncanny quality. In the poster, the hand is enveloped in drifting smoke. On closer inspection, the hand that beckons guests inward is also imbued with the enticing aroma of delicious food.

Based on this narrative, the poster was conceived as a subtle device that enhances the quiet pleasure of diners as they enjoy their meal.

Mitsuki Kashiwagi

i-k-do.com