Takiguchi Shuzo and artists－Seike Collection（Auction）

Jul. 7 [Fri.] ― Jul. 15 [Sat.] 2023 11:00-19:00
Gallery closed Sun., Mon., and national holidays.

*Click images to view in original size

From the collection of Mr. Seike Katsuhisa, who serialized "In search of Takiguchi Shuzo" (12 times in total) and "Takiguchi Shuzo and the artists - from my collection" (14 times in total) on his Toki-no-Wasuremono blog. 26 works by 23 artists will be selected and exhibited, and all works will be distributed through a low-risk intermediate bidding method. Artists is Takiguchi Shuzo, Kano Mitsuo, Komai Tetsuro, Jean Fautrier, Antoni Tapies, Henri Michaux, Hamaguchi Yozo, Fujita Tsuguharu, Ikeda Masuo, Ay-O , Oyamada Jiro, Komoda Morisuke, Nakagawa Yukio, Yagi Kazu, Yoshihara Jiro, Matsuzawa Yutaka , Joan Miro, Sam Francis, Nonaka Yuri, Man Ray, Paul Eluard, Shinohara Kao, Wols.

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●Takiguchi Shuzo 1903-1979
Poet, art critic, sculptor. Born in Toyama Prefecture, he began to be involved in Surrealism when he was a student at Keio University, and published experimental poetry. After graduating, he worked to introduce and popularize Surrealism through translation and art criticism, and led many avant-garde art groups. After the war, he resumed his active criticism activities, and from around 1960 he began to create his own sculptures using a variety of techniques. In the mid-1960s, Marcel Duchamp gave him permission to use the name “"Rrose Selavy,” the name of the “shop of objects” that he conceived of, and he continued to study Ducha until his last years. He has also collaborated on many poetry collections with Nobuya Abe, Miró, Tavies, Mitsuo Kano and other painters.

●Kano Mitsuo b.1933
Born in Tokyo in 1952, he became interested in copperplate printing after reading Kon Junzo's "New Techniques for Printmaking" and worked as a botanist's assistant. In 1955, a collection of copperplate engravings, Plants, was published as a private edition. In 1956, he held his first solo exhibition at the Takemiya Gallery, which was planned by Takiguchi. In 1959, won awards at international exhibitions in Japan and abroad. In 1967, Minami Gallery published "Kano Mitsuo" edited by Takiguchi. In 1977, Minami Gallery published a collection of lithographs, Lightning Catch. In 1979, a collection of poetry and paintings with Takiguchi was published. In 1980, he held the exhibition “Kano Mitsuo’s Prints – Together with Takiguchi Shuzo –” at the Fukuoka Art Museum. Since the 1980s, he has also produced unique oil paintings that fix fluid traces like decalcomanies by manipulating acrylic sheets. In 1993, he had a retrospective exhibition at the Sezon Museum of Art and other venues, and in 2000 at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art. In 2019, the exhibition “Takiguchi Shuzo / Kano Mitsuo 《Semiotic of the Storm Petrel》 2019” was held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art.

●Komai Tetsuro 1920-1976
Born in Tokyo. He began studying copperplate engraving at Nishida Takeo's Japan Etching Institute from 1935. Graduated from Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1942. In 1948, he exhibited at the Japan Print Association Exhibition and won an award. Highly acclaimed by Oka Shikanosuke and Takiguchi Shuzo, he won the Shunyokai Prize in 1950 and the Colony Award at the 1st São Paulo Biennale in 1951, got a lot of attention. In 1952, he participated in "Experimental Studio" with the introduction of Takiguchi. In 1953, he held his first solo exhibition at the Shiseido Gallery. In the following year, he traveled to France and met Hasegawa Kiyoshi. The exhibition commemorating the opening of the Minami Gallery in 1956 was also a solo exhibition by Komai Tetsuro. As a professor at Tama Art University and Tokyo University of the Arts, he nurtured many juniors. Aoyagi Mizuho's translation of Lootre Amon's "Song of Maldroor" (Mokubasha, 1952), Poetry and painting collection with Ando Tsuguo "Kandorie" (Shoshi Eureka, 1960), "People call that and call it anti-ka" (Espers Gallery) , 1966).

●Jean Fautrier 1898-1964
Born in Paris, France. After his father died in 1907, he moved to England with his mother to study at the Royal Academy in London. In 1917 he joined the army and returned to Paris in 1920, he painted his first abstract paintings in 1928. Became acquainted with André Malraux and was commissioned to draw illustrations for Dante's Inferno. During World War II, he joined the resistance movement and created the "Hostages" series. He had a great impact on the art world in post-war Paris and became a forerunner of Art Informel. 1957 Solo exhibition at the Sidney Janis Gallery in New York. 1959 Came to Japan to hold a solo exhibition at Minami Gallery (arranged by Toshimitsu Imai). Takiguchi also interviewed him and published an exhibition review, "The ABCs of Painting" (Yomiuri Shimbun) and an essay, "The Silent Part of Fautrier" ("Mizue"). In 1960, he won the Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale.

●Antoni Tapies 1923-2012
Born in Barcelona, Spain. Although he studied law at the University of Barcelona, he aspired to be a self-taught painter. In 1950, he won a scholarship for his first solo exhibition, went to Paris, and there he met Picasso. He exhibited at the 1952 Venice Biennale, and in 1953 he made a solo exhibition in New York, winning the Award for Excellence at the São Paulo Biennale. In 1958, he won the UNESCO Prize at the Venice Biennale. He met Takiguchi, who was a member of Japan's national team and a judge, and since then they have deepened their friendship. In 1975, he published a collection of poetry book "Material Glance" with Takiguchi. In 1976, a retrospective exhibition was held at the Seibu Museum of Art. The Hara Museum held the exhibition “Tapiès Spanish Giant: A Passionate Painting Challenge” in 2005.

●Henri Michaux 1899-1984
Belgian poet and painter. Studied at the University of Brussels. In 1920, he became a sailor and traveled around the world. In 1922, inspired by the poetry of Lautreamont, he began writing poetry, and in 1923 published the poetry collections " Fables des origines" and " Les Rêves et la Jambe ". After moving to Paris, he was inspired by surrealism and pursued something that could not be expressed in the world of letters. Held his first solo exhibition at the Playard Gallery in Paris. The irregular form was considered the forerunner of art informel. Since 1954, he has been inhaling hallucinogenic drugs, recording the moment when letters and images emerge under the effects of the drugs, and experimenting with mescaline drawing to explore the roots of poetry and painting. In 1958, when Takiguchi traveled to Europe as a Japanese representative and judge at the Venice Biennale, he visited Michaud.

●Hamaguchi Yozo 1909-2000
Born into the founder of Yamasa Soy Sauce in Wakayama. In 1930, he dropped out of the Sculpture Department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and moved to France, began making oil paintings. Participated in the establishment of the Jiyu Bijutsuka Kyokai in 1937. Became interested in copperplate engraving and started producing by self-study. Returned to Japan in 1939. In 1953, after the war, he moved again to France, where he began full-scale production of copper engravings. Hasegawa Kiyoshi was the one who revived the mezzotint technique in the 20th century, but Hamaguchi further deepened it into a technique called “color mezzotint,” in which color plates are layered and printed, and in 1955 he produced his first four-color print. 1957 The National Museum of Modern Art Award at the Tokyo International Print Biennale, and the 4th São Paulo Biennale Award for Printmaking, both of which won the grand prize. The exhibition "The World of Yozo Hamaguchi" was held at the Museum of Modern Art.

●Fujita Tsuguharu 1886-1968
Born in Tokyo. Moved to France in 1913 after graduating from Tokyo Fine Arts School. In the 1920s, he established a painting style with delicate lines using a fine-point brush on a unique milky-white background, and his nudes gained popularity and became a darling of the École de Paris. In 1929, he temporarily returned to Japan for the first time in 16 years and held a solo exhibition. In 1940, he escaped from Paris during World War II and returned to Japan. After the war, he was criticized for being a war collaborator, so in 1949 he left Japan and moved to France, acquiring French citizenship In 1959, he was baptized Catholic. His works are collected in museums around the world, including France, and his position as a representative painter of the 20th century has been firmly established.

●Ikeda Masuo 1934-1997
Born in Manchuria. In 1945 Returned to the hometown of his mother, Nagano. Later he would move to Tokyo in 1952 after graduating from high school. In 1956, he joined the Democrat Artists Association established by Q Ei and Izumi Shigeru. With the support of Kubo Sadajiro, he tried making color copperplate engravings on the recommendation of making copperplate prints, and gained wide popularity. In 1957, on the recommendation of Takiguchi Shuzo, exhibited at Takemiya Gallery's Copperplate Engraving Exhibition. Received the National Museum of Modern Art Award at the 1964 Tokyo International Print Biennale. The following year, the first solo exhibition as a Japanese at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. In 1966, he won the grand prize in the printmaking category at the Venice Biennale and became a star of the printmaking world. Produced in 1969 based in the United States. In 1977, he won the Akutagawa Prize for his novel "Dedicated to the Aegean Sea", and was active in a wide range of fields, including writing, movies, and ceramics.

●Ay-O b.1931
Born in Ibaraki Prefecture. 1954 Graduated from Tokyo University of Education, Department of Art. Ikeda Masuo and others participated in the Democrat Artists Association established by Q Ei and others while in school. First solo exhibition of Takemiya paintings in 1955. In 1958, moved to New York 1962 Participated in George Maciunas' loop, Fluxus. In 1964, he performed Rainbow Happening for the Fluxus Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. He won awards at international exhibitions such as the 7th Tokyo International Print Biennale in 1970 and the Sa Paulo Biennale in 1971. Reconstructed by decomposing objects and images into rainbow colors, he has received worldwide acclaim. In 2012, a large-scale retrospective exhibition was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art.

●Oyamada Jiro 1914-1991
Born in Andong, China, and raised in Otawara, Tochigi. Learned watercolor painting from Kobori Tomono, a distant relative of the Japanese painting department. In 1934, he entered the Imperial Art School, but due to opposition from his father, his support was cut off and he dropped out. In 1937, exhibited at the Independent Bijutsu Kyokai Exhibition, and from 1942 onwards at the Bijutsu Bunka Kyokai. In 1945, an air raid destroyed all of his accumulated works. In 1947, became a member of the Freedom Artists Association. First solo exhibition at Takemiya Gallery, curated by Takiguchi Shuzo in 1952. In 1959, he held a solo exhibition of large-scale works at the Tokyo Gallery on his recommendation. 1955's "Pieta" depicts the dark side and destiny of human beings in black tones.seen as one person. In the 1960s, he held solo exhibitions mainly at the Iida Gallery. He suddenly disappead in 1971 (later found to have run away with Kobori's grandson), He held solo exhibitions at Fuma Gallery and others, he sent to the gallery for limiting his relationship with society to the presentation of works. In 2014, a retrospective exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth was held at the Fuchu Art Museum.

●Komoda Morisuke 1918-1960
Born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. He moved to Tokyo, entered the Faculty of Law, Chuo University. Studied under Inokuma Genichiro, Wakita Kazu, and Uchida Iwao. Dropped out of university in 1939 and worked for the Ministry of Finance. The following year, he was selected for the Shin-Seisaku Association Exhibition for the first time (became a member of the association in 1950). In 1946, after the war, he retired from the Ministry of Finance and devoted himself to painting. Participated in Print Association, Independent, International Representational Art Exhibition, Japan International Art Exhibition, etc. Suffering from breathing and pulmonary tuberculosis, he continued to paint still lifes and nudes, mainly in ocher, dark brown, and dull green, but his short life ended at the age of 42.

●Nakagawa Yukio 1918-2012
Born in Kagawa prefecture. Suffered spinal caries in childhood. After graduating from elementary school, he worked at a lithographic printing company in Osaka, but his illness worsened and he returned to his hometown. In 1943, he started ikebana at the recommendation of his mother, who was an Ikenobo school. In 1950, he participated in the formation of Jishshasha, an avant-garde ikebana group led by Shigemori Mirei. 1951 Parted ways with Ikenobo and started working as a freelancer without belonging to any school. 1956 Moved to Marugame or Tokyo. I got to know Takiguchi in the late 1960s, and in 1972, when I asked him to write the preface to the collection of his works, Hana (published in 1977), I saw a performance of “Hanabozu” (a glass container filled with red carnations) in my study. 1999 2nd Oribe Prize Grand Prix, 11th Japan Oribe Prize Grand Prix, 1999 Received the Cultural Arts Promotion Award.

●Yagi Kazuo 1918-1979
Born in Kyoto as the eldest son of ceramic artist Yagi Hajime. After graduating from Kyoto Municipal Arts and Crafts School, Department of Sculpture, enrolled in the Japan Ceramic Sculpture Association to study carving. During the war he worked as a teacher, but after the war he devoted himself to pottery. In 1948, he formed the avant-garde pottery group Sodeisha with Suzuki, Yamada Hikaru, and others. Aiming for a free ceramic art that is not bound by tradition, he has pioneered a new genre called “objet ware” that has been stripped of its practicality as a vessel. In 1956, solo exhibition at Takemiya Gallery, in 1962 received the Grand Prix at the 3rd International Ceramic Art Exhibition in Prague and received high acclaim.

●Yoshihara Jiro 1905-1972
Born in a long-established oil wholesaler in Osaka (later Yoshiwara Oil), he started painting by himself while working in the family business. It was introduced by Kamiyama Jiro, who was brilliant, and was pointed out by Fujita Tsuguharu for its originality, and it was a later work. This became the starting point for the motto I discussed with the Gutai participants, ``Don't be on the other side of people.'' In 1988, he formed “Kyushitsukai” together with avant-garde painters of Nikakai. After the war, he moved from abstract paintings with rough brushstrokes to a series of circle-shaped works similar to the Enso of Zen Buddhism in his later years. In 1947, he participated in the formation of the Japan Avant-garde Artists Club with Takiguchi Shuzo and others. In 1954, he formed the Gutai Art Association and Gutai, a group of young artists from the Kansai region. He was praised by the art critic Michel Tapié, who advocated art informel, and attracted attention in Europe and the United States. He developed activities based on the exhibition facility “Gutai Pinacotheca” (opened in 1962), which was a remodeled storehouse he owned in Nakanoshima. Gutai disbanded with Yoshihara's death, but its pioneering spirit has been internationally acclaimed.

●Matsuzawa Yutaka 1922-2006
Born in Nagano prefecture. In 1946, Graduated from Waseda University School of Science and Engineering, Department of Architecture. In 1949, he published a collection of poems, Immortality on the Earth, and exhibited at the Art and Culture Exhibition in 1952. He formed the Alpha Geijutsujin group with painter Komaki Gentaro. In 1955, he traveled to the United States as a Fulpright research student to explore contemporary art and religious philosophy at Columbia University and other institutions, and returned to Japan in 1957. Exhibited at the Yomiuri Independent Exhibition. Since 1959, he has created works with the word “psi”, such as “Psai Bird”. In 1964, he received a revelation to "erase the objects" and began working as a conceptual artist expressing himself through words and letters. Based in Shimosuwa's atelier-cum-repository "Psay's Room" (named after Takiguchi), he has been active internationally at art and project galleries in the Netherlands and at the São Paulo Biennale. His works and activities, which are rooted in Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and the Suwa climate, have been highly acclaimed as a pioneer and founder of conceptual art, and are included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. In 2022, hold a retrospective exhibition at the Nagano Prefectural Museum of Art.

●Joan Miro 1893-1983
Born in Barcelona, Spain. Moved to Bali in 1919 and met with Picasso. There is a well-known anecdote that a young Hemingway, who saw (1922) at a glance, rushed to buy it. Around 1925 Participated in Surrealism, and is regarded as one of the leading surrealist painters for his paintings that depict familiar motifs in vivid colors and deformed organic forms. 1940-1941 The 23 points in the "Constellations" series of the year were highly praised by Pluton. In addition to oil paintings and prints, he also works on pottery and murals, and has left many poetry collections with poets. In 1941, he held a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. In 1966, he visited Japan for the first time to hold a retrospective exhibition. He met Takiguchi, the author of the world's first book of illustrations, Milo (Atelier Publishing, 1940), and deepened their exchanges. After Takiguchi's death in 1979, he sent a follow-up work to Mrs. Ayako.

●Sam Francis 1923-1994
Born in California, USA. He entered the University of California, Berkeley. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 for World War II. The following year, he was hospitalized due to a plane crash and began painting as therapy. He moved to France in 1950 and studied at the Fernand Léger Art School. Then he exhibited at the exhibition "The Meaning of Art Informel" curated by Michel Tapié. In 1957, he came to Japan for the first time to create a mural commissioned by Sofu Teshigahara. In 1961, a solo exhibition was held at Minami Gallery, and Takiguchi Shuzo wrote the preface to the catalog, "With Sam Francis." In 1964, Minami Gallery published a poetry book "you the yellow" with Takiguchi. Evaluated as a color painter who followed the trends of Art Informel and Abstract Expressionism, the influence of Japanese art can be seen in the composition of the screen, which makes use of the blank space, and the expression method that makes use of “bleeding”. Having an atelier in Tokyo, he interacted with many cultural figures including Takiguchi, Isozaki Arata, Tono Yoshiaki, and Oe Kenzaburo.

●Nonaka Yuri b.1938
Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Komaba High School. Became familiar with the poetry and writings of Shuzo Takiguchi while still in school. Participated in Takiguchi's copperplate print exhibition at the Takemiya Gallery From around 1953, he began attending the Printmaking Institute led by Junichiro Sekino, where he began producing copperplate prints. In 1957 he Exhibited with Nomitsu O, Hamada Chimei and others. He submitted to the Tokyo International Print Biennale. And in 1959 he had his First solo exhibition. In addition to producing prints, collages, and objects, he also handled a lot of bookbinding and illustrations. She collaborated with Takiguchi's poetry, producing a collection of poetry book “A Stars, like a human fingers” in 1965, and produced a private version “Fujisyo”, a book object art using micare in 1967. In 2002, the exhibition “Transparent Dream Yuri Nonaka” was held at the Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura

●Man Ray 1898-1964
Born in Philadelphia to Russian Jewish immigrants. His real name is Emmanuel Rudnitsky. Moved to New York and worked part-time to make a living while creating paintings. Started photography to document the work. From around 2011, he visited Alfred Stieglitz Gallery 291 and the Armory Show 1913, where he encountered contemporary art. In 1915, became lifelong friend of Marcel Duchamp. He had his first solo exhibition at Daniel Gallery. In 1917, he launched the New York Dada movement. With Duchamp's return to Japan in 1921, he emigrated to Paris and participated in the 1st Surrealist Exhibition in 1925. Demonstrates versatility in photography, painting, objects, graphics, and experimental films. In photography in p articular, he pioneered novel techniques such as rayography and solarization, while achieving commercial success in portrait and fashion photography. In 1940, he returned to the United States temporarily to escape the Nazi invasion. In 1951, he returned to Paris, where he devoted himself to painting. Takiguchi admired Man Ray when he graduated from Keio University and planned to run a photo studio.

●Paul Eluard 1895-1952
French poet. Began writing poetry after being exposed to the works of Baudelaire and Rimbaud Pollinaire. In 1917, he married his first wife Gala and, after ran to Dali, he married second wife Nush. In Paris with André Breton, Louis Aragon, Philippe Soupault they painted Surrealism. Published a collection of poetry with Breton, “Virgin Birth” (1930), and a collection of poetry and paintings with Mac Conley, “Free Hands” (1937). Gradually strengthened his sympathy for Picasso and published "Triumph of Guernica" (1937). In 1938, he parted ways with Breton and joined the French Communist Party. He remained in France even under the Nazi occupation, and in 1942 he announced the resistance "Liberty" to inspire the people. In 1943, a collection of poetry selections by 22 resistance poets, Poets' Honor, was published by Shinya Sosho. He has written nearly 80 books, including a collection of poetry and paintings with Picasso, Faces of Peace (1951).

●Shinohara Kao 1933-2005
Born in Tokyo. Dropped out of Musashino Academia Musicae. Exhibited at the Yomiuri Independent Exhibition from 1958 to 1961. In 1959, studied copperplate engraving under Kano Mitsuo. In 1962, he held his first solo exhibition at Bungeishunju Gallery, followed by solo exhibitions at Akiyama Gallery and Naika Gallery. In 1965, he collaborated with Tatsumi Hijikata to publish the print book "Eros no Tsume". In 1975, a collection of poems and paintings with Takiguchi, Kokyuko Tan, was published by Nishimura Gallery In 1989, he exhibited at the Yokohama Citizens' Gallery, Tatsumi Hijikata and His Surroundings exhibition. In 1992, exhibited at the Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Art "The Universe of Books" exhibition.

●Wols 1913-1951
Originally from Germany. Born into a wealthy family in Berlin, he showed a talent for music and art. His real name is Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schultz. Started working as a photographer in France. With excellence and compositional power, the scenery of Paris and the ingredients were established like objects. During World War II, while moving from one camp to another, he lost his camera and began creating fantastic watercolor paintings. He married his French friend, Grady, and was released from prison. After the war, he returned to Paris to create watercolors, oil paintings, and copperplate engravings. Recognized by Sartre and others, he worked on illustrations, etc., but died at the age of 38 due to alcohol poisoning. Although he was unrelated to art education or a specific art group, today he is seen as a pioneer of Art Informel. In 1964, Minami Gallery held an exhibition of Vols. In the catalog, Takiguchi wrote the preface, "WOLS 'or the way'.

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