New technology, and the speed with which it now allows information to be disseminated, has undoubtedly increased the art world's ability to influence the media. The development of graphic design, for example, has paralleled closely that of modern paintings, poetry and architecture. It is even said the roots of 20th Century graphic design can be found in cubism and futurist poetry.

Print and graphic design have long been part of the fabric of city life, and the buildings, vehicles and furniture that exist within it. However, it has only been recently that the world of graphic design has been able to harness the necessary dynamism and environmental relevance to allow it to break free from traditional boundaries. Now days, graphic design plays an important role in linking the individual with our highly urbanized society of mass production and mass communication. One tool used by the design world to create this link is the poster.

The poster has long been found in the worlds of art, cultural and commerce, and is a key link between these worlds. While the poster has been central to the advertising world's assault on our senses in the closing stages of the 20th Century, I believe it is not going too far to say that the poster could be described as representing the very essence of modern art. It has become an indispensable tool, which our society of mass production uses to reach out to the masses; to both delight them and incite them to act.

In spring 2000, a surprisingly fresh conceptual poster exhibition called "Merry" appeared (I'm still not sure if it was fate or chance that led me to it). Hold in the Laforet museum Harajuku, Merry:A world of fun was overwhelming in its ability to excite the senses. The exhibition, which was the brainchild of Koji Mizutani, attracted over 30,000 people with it's large poster sized images of the smiling faces of over 2,000 young women (all of whom were photographed in the Harajuku area). The exhibition was made even more interesting by the fact that all the posters exhibited were printed on site, with amazing speed, using an Epson Maxart Printer.

Now, one year later, "Merry" is set to take its brand of youth culture to a global audience. In spring 2001, two "Merry" exhibitions will be run simultaneously in two very different locations. "Harajuku Merry" will go on exhibit at London's prestigious Selfridges' Department Store, while Laforet will play host to "London Merry".

Although the 20th Century was undoubtedly a period marked by war and hardship, it was also an important time for the advancement of women in society. Thus it is perhaps fitting that "Merry", through the use of images of the smiling faces of young women, presents us with a vision of the 21st Century that is filled with dreams and hope.

"Merry" takes us into the lives of its subjects through their smiling faces and happy comments. I believe that the art world in the 21st Century is crying out for this type of happy go lucky outlook on life, and I truly hope that the kind of positivism that "Merry" embodied comes to be seen as an essential part of any art project.