Shuzo TAKIGUCHI![]() |
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Known as a poet and an art critic. Embodied the principle of surrealism and supported activities of numerous artists as a logic and a moral support of an avant-garde movement during pre and post war era of Japan. He collaborated with artists in and out of Japan to create illustrated collection of poems, and also created various artworks himself. Born 1903 in Toyama prefecture. He was intimate with literatures and arts from young age, and was especially fond of William Blake. While at Keio University Faculty of Letters Department of English Literature, he was deeply influenced by the surrealism, introduced by his teacher Junzaburo Nishiwaki, and through books such as "The Surrealist Manifesto" and "The Magnetic Fields". He published series of experimental poetic texts while at the university, and also fully translated Andre Breton's "Surrealism and Painting". Graduated in 1931, Takiguchi was employed as a scriptor at PCL (Photo Chemical Laboratory, predecessor of Toho Company, Ltd.) and started his activity as an art critic. He continued correspondenses between overseas surrealist, translated and introduced Breton's "The Communicating Vessels", "Mad Love", his lecture in the International Cultural Defence Convention of Artists against Nazi, along with works of artists such as Ernst and Dali. In 1937, Takiguchi organised "the Overseas Surrealism Exhibition" with Sansei Yamanaka (also edited the memorial publication "Album Surrealist"). Along with art criticisms such as "Surrealism sculpting theory" and "Problems on Avant-garde Art", he has also released photo criticisms such as "Photography and Surrealism" and "Materials and Photographs", guiding researching avant-garde artists and photographers who were not members of art circles. Unfortunately, this was regarded as an international communist activity, and he was captured by a special police for seven months from the spring of 1941. After the war, he has presented many art criticisms, becoming a representative critic of the era. |
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While providing chances for young artists by planning over 200 exhibitions at Takemiya Gallery, he also took part in the activity of "Jikken Kobou (Experiment studio)" founded in 1951 as an advisor. With his honest character, his influence was very significant.
In 1958, he traveled to Europe to take part in the Venice Biennale as a commissioner. There he rated Italian architecture representative Fonatana very highly, and voted him for the painting section. After the Biennale, he traveled across Europe to meet people such as Andre Breton, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali and Henri Michaux (He recalled meeting with Breton was "the harvest of life").
After returning to Japan, his writings on art criticism were reduced, and more private writings, like an introductory note of an exhibition has increased. Contrary to retiring from public positions, he was very enthusiastic to become a special counsel for Genpei Akasegawa's "1,000 yen note incident" which was on court between 1965 to 1970. Collaborating with many artists such as Joan Miro and Sam Francis to create illustrated collection of poems, he also created many works using unique techniques such as drawing, a water color, a burnt drawing, a roto-dessin and a decalcomanie and held several solo-exhibitions with his own works. In 1967 he published "Shuzo Takiguchi's poetic Experiments 1927-1937" in which he recollected poetic texts he wrote during the war. He has also left a prose text in a form of a dream record and other proverb like short phrase works. He was offerred the name "Rrose Selavy" for his conceptual "objet shop" from Marcel Duchamp, who he kept in touch since his travel to Europe mentioned above. In return, he published "Selected words of Marcel Duchamp" in 1968. He continued his research on Duchamp, later producing multiple sculptures which multi-layerizated part of Duchamp's "Large Glass"(Rrose Selavy, Tokyo 1977. Collaborated with sculptor Kazuo Okazaki). Passed away in 1979 due to an heart attack. |
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![]() "IV-02" 1961 Watercolor on paper Image size: 9.7×9.0cm Sheet size: 12.3×9.0cm Signed on the back of the frame |
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![]() "A souvenir or not of Philadelphia" 1973 Hand made booklet 20.5×14.0cm (Chiba City Museum of Art, p.176 No.200) SOLD |
![]() "III-19" Decalcomanie ※『Shuzo TAKIGUCHI's Artificial Experimentations』(2001)paired with No.205 Image size: 14.0x10.5cm Sheet size: 25.1x17.5cm |
![]() "V-09" Watercolor、ink、colored pencil、paper Image size: 27.5x22.7cm Sheet size: 31.5x26.8cm Signed |
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![]() "III-3" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 13.7×9.8cm Sheet size: 13.7×9.8cm |
![]() "III-14" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 18.5×13.9cm Sheet size: 18.5×13.9cm |
![]() "III-32" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 18.0×13.0cm Sheet size: 26.2×19.1cm * In pair with III-33 |
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![]() "III-33" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 18.0×13.2cm Sheet size: 26.3×19.2cm * In pair with III-32 |
![]() "III-43" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 17.5×13.6cm Sheet size: 17.5×13.6cm * In pair with III-44 |
![]() "III-44" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 17.3×13.6cm Sheet size: 17.3×13.6cm * In pair with III-43 |
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![]() "II-8" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 11.0×8.5cm Sheet size: 13.7×9.8cm * In pair with "II-7 " |
![]() "II-18" Decalcomanie Image size: 15.7×9.0cm Sheet size: 19.3×13.1cm |
![]() "II-20" Decalcomanie Image size: 14.2×9.3cm Sheet size: 25.8×19.0cm * In pair with "II-21" |
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![]() "II-21" Decalcomanie Image size: 15.5×9.3cm Sheet size: 25.7×19.0cm * In pair with "II-20" |
![]() "II-26" Decalcomanie Image size: 14.0×10.0cm Sheet size: 19.2×13.2cm * In pair with "II-27" |
![]() "II-27" Decalcomanie Image size: 13.5×10.5cm Sheet size: 18.4×12.3cm * In pair with "II-26" |
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![]() "II-29" Decalcomanie Image size: 11.2×7.3cm Sheet size: 19.4×13.2cm * In pair with "II-30" |
![]() "II-30" Decalcomanie Image size: 11.2×7.5cm Sheet size: 19.3×13.2cm * In pair with "II-29" |
![]() "I-16" Ink on paper (postcard) Image size: 14.1×10.2cm Sheet size: 14.1×10.2cm |
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![]() "I-05" Japanese ink on paper Image size: 26.0×19.6cm Sheet size: 35.5×25.2cm |
![]() "I-06" Pen on paper Image size: 29.0×20.5cm Sheet size: 35.6×25.0cm |
![]() "I-11" Ink on paper Image size: 30.5×22.0cm Sheet size: 35.4×27.0cm |
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![]() "I-12" Ink on paper Image size: 31.3×25.5cm Sheet size: 35.4×27.1cm |
![]() "I-26" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 31.5×22.8cm Sheet size: 40.7×32.0cm |
![]() "I-34" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 34.2×23.6cm Sheet size: 35.7×25.1cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-40" Roto-dessin and pencil on paper Image size: 11.7×11.7cm Sheet size: 12.6×12.6cm SOLD |
![]() "II-3" Decalcomanie, watercolor, paper Image size: 14.2×5.1cm Sheet size: 14.2×5.1cm |
![]() "II-13" 1962 Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 7.3×12.6cm Sheet size: 9.8×13.7cm * In pair with No.76 in The Museum of Modern Art,Toyama |
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![]() "III-6" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 19.3×13.8cm Sheet size: 19.3×13.8cm SOLD |
![]() "III-12" Decalcomanie, paper (Post card) Image size: 14.2×9.1cm Sheet size: 14.2×9.1cm SOLD |
![]() "III-13" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 15.5×8.2cm Sheet size: 19.3×13.1cm SOLD |
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![]() "II-1" Decalcomanie, watercolor, paper Image size: 14.0×12.3cm Sheet size: 15.1×12.3cm SOLD |
![]() "II-2" Decalcomanie, watercolor, paper Image size: 13.6×9.9cm Sheet size: 13.6×9.9cm SOLD |
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![]() "II-4" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 13.6×9.7cm Sheet size: 13.6×9.7cm * In pair with "II-5" SOLD |
![]() "II-5" Decalcomanie, watercolor, paper Image size: 13.6×9.9cm Sheet size: 13.6×9.9cm * In pair with "II-4" Another image on reverse side SOLD |
![]() "II-6" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 13.8×9.9cm Sheet size: 13.8×9.9cm SOLD |
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![]() "II-7" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 13.7×9.9cm Sheet size: 13.7×9.9cm * In pair with "II-8" SOLD |
![]() "II-9" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 12.1×10.1cm Sheet size: 12.9×11.0cm SOLD |
![]() "II-10" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 16.7×11.6cm Sheet size: 16.7×11.6cm SOLD |
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![]() "II-11" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 13.6×9.9cm Sheet size: 13.6×9.9cm Another image on reverse side SOLD |
![]() "II-12" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 5.4×9.0cm Sheet size: 5.4×9.0cm SOLD |
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![]() "II-14" 1962 Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 12.5×9.2cm Sheet size: 12.5×9.2cm * In pair with No.53 in The Museum of Modern Art,Toyama SOLD |
![]() "II-15" Decalcomanie, paper (postcard) Image size: 14.1×9.0cm Sheet size: 14.1×9.0cm SOLD |
![]() "II-16" Decalcomanie Image size: 14.2×7.3cm Sheet size: 19.3×13.1cm * Pair of No.198 from "Shuzo Takiguchi: Plastic Experiments" (2001) SOLD |
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![]() "II-17" Decalcomanie Image size: 12.3×9.0cm Sheet size: 19.4×13.1cm * Pair of No.197 from "Shuzo Takiguchi: Plastic Experiments" (2001) (Bottom image differs) SOLD |
![]() "II-19" Decalcomanie Image size: 26.3×19.0cm Sheet size: 26.3×19.0cm * Pair of No.223 from "Shuzo Takiguchi: Plastic Experiments" (2001) SOLD |
![]() "II-22" Decalcomanie Image size: 15.0×10.0cm Sheet size: 26.9×20.0cm * In pair with "II-23" SOLD |
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![]() "II-23" Decalcomanie Image size: 15.5×10.5cm Sheet size: 27.0×19.3cm * In pair with "II-22" SOLD |
![]() "II-24" Decalcomanie Image size: 20.4×13.7cm Sheet size: 20.4×13.7cm SOLD |
![]() "II-25" Decalcomanie Image size: 18.5×14.8cm Sheet size: 26.4×19.1cm SOLD |
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![]() "II-28" Decalcomanie Image size: 13.0×10.7cm Sheet size: 13.3×11.0cm * Pair of No.222 from "Shuzo Takiguchi: Plastic Experiments" (2001) SOLD |
![]() "II-40" Decalcomanie, paper Image size: 13.7×19.6cm Sheet size: 13.7×19.6cm Image on reverse side SOLD |
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![]() "I-01" Japanese ink on paper Image size: 30.5×24.7cm Sheet size: 35.3×24.7cm SOLD |
![]() "I-02" Japanese ink on paper Image size: 27.5×25.5cm Sheet size: 35.3×26.5cm Signed on bottom left SOLD |
![]() "I-03" Japanese ink on paper Image size: 34.2×25.3cm Sheet size: 35.3×26.6cm Signed on bottom left SOLD |
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![]() "I-04" Japanese ink on paper Image size: 35.4×26.5cm Sheet size: 35.4×26.5cm Signed on bottom left SOLD |
![]() "I-07" 1961 Ballpoint pen on paper Image size: 34.5×26.4cm Sheet size: 38.0×27.0cm Signed and dated on the back, noted "IV" SOLD |
![]() "I-08" 1961 Ballpoint pen on paper Image size: 33.5×26.0cm Sheet size: 38.0×27.0cm Signed and dated on the back, noted "VI" SOLD |
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![]() "I-09" 1961 Ballpoint pen on paper Image size: 36.0×25.7cm Sheet size: 38.0×27.0cm Signed and dated on the back, noted "VIII" SOLD |
![]() "I-10" Color pencil on paper Image size: 18.5×15.7cm Sheet size: 24.8×20.0cm SOLD |
![]() "I-13" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 31.3×25.5cm Sheet size: 35.4×27.1cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-14" 1961 Water color and ink on paper Image size: 26.3×30.5cm Sheet size: 27.0×35.4cm Signed and dated on the bottom right SOLD |
![]() "I-15" 1961 Water color and ink on paper Image size: 34.2×26.9cm Sheet size: 35.2×27.0cm Signed and dated on the bottom right SOLD |
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![]() "I-17" 1963 Watercolor on paper Image size: 15.0×24.5cm Sheet size: 17.5×26.9cm Signed and dated on the back SOLD |
![]() "I-18" 1961 Watercolor on paper Image size: 16.5×20.3cm Sheet size: 16.5×20.3cm Dated on the back. Signed and dated on the mat SOLD |
![]() "I-19" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 11.5×10.0cm Sheet size: 13.4×12.6cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-20" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 29.8×20.0cm Sheet size: 29.8×20.0cm SOLD |
![]() "I-21" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 18.0×26.0cm Sheet size: 18.0×27.2cm Another image on reverse side SOLD |
![]() "I-22" Watercolor on paper Image size: 18.1×11.4cm Sheet size: 18.2×11.5cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-23" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 32.0×23.5cm Sheet size: 37.5×30.0cm SOLD |
![]() "I-24" 1960 Water color and ink on paper Image size: 26.5×16.5cm Sheet size: 29.0×23.4cm Signed and dated on the back SOLD |
![]() "I-25" 1960 Water color and ink on paper Image size: 24.8×16.0cm Sheet size: 29.0×23.6cm Dated on the bottom right SOLD |
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![]() "I-27" 1962 Water color and ink on paper Image size: 34.5×26.4cm Sheet size: 38.0×27.0cm Signed and dated on the bottom right SOLD |
![]() "I-28" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.5×24.4cm Sheet size: 35.5×24.4cm SOLD |
![]() "I-29" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.5×24.4cm Sheet size: 35.5×24.4cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-30" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.3×24.8cm Sheet size: 35.3×25.0cm SOLD |
![]() "I-31" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 27.2×39.2cm Sheet size: 27.2×39.2cm SOLD |
![]() "I-32" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.7×24.5cm Sheet size: 35.7×24.5cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-33" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.7×25.0cm Sheet size: 35.7×25.1cm SOLD |
![]() "I-35" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.7×25.0cm Sheet size: 35.7×25.0cm SOLD |
![]() "I-36" Water color and ink on paper Image size: 35.7×25.0cm Sheet size: 35.7×25.0cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-37" Watercolor, ink on blotting paper Image size: 36.5×27.2cm Sheet size: 39.5×27.2cm SOLD |
![]() "I-38" Watercolor, ink on blotting paper Image size: 27.1×39.3cm Sheet size: 27.1×39.3cm SOLD |
![]() "I-39" 1962 Burnt drawing, pencil on paper Image size: 7.7×16.5cm Sheet size: 12.8×21.2cm Signed and dated on the bottom SOLD |
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![]() "I-41" Roto-dessin and pencil on paper Image size: 15.2×15.2cm Sheet size: 18.5×18.8cm SOLD |
![]() "I-42" Roto-dessin and pencil on paper Image size: 15.0×15.0cm Sheet size: 18.2×16.6cm SOLD |
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![]() "I-43" Roto-dessin, Color pencil on paper Image size: 13.3×13.7cm Sheet size: 13.3×13.7cm SOLD |
![]() "I-44" Collage, silver paper on tracing paper Image size: 15.8×13.7cm Sheet size: 18.2×16.4cm (18.2×32.8cm when opened) SOLD |
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![]() Print collection with Shuzo TAKIGUCHI's poems "Sphinx" Ed.50 1954 Idea by Sadajiro KUBO Editorial by Tatsuo FUKUSHIMA Cover and layout design by Ryuichi YAMASHIRO Prints by Tamiji KITAGAWA, Q Ei, Shigeru IZUMI, Tadashi KATO, Koujin TONEYAMA, Toshiko AOHARA (UCHIMA) In Ed.1 to Ed.6 there are original dessins by 6 artists |
Essays
Essays by Shuzo TAKIGUCHI
"First-hand Experiences"
"I also Draw (1961)"
Essay on Shuzo TAKIGUCHI
"Shuzo Takiguchi - Life and Works" by Nobuhiko Tsuchibuchi
Inquiry form

2014
No.256) Shuzo TAKIGUCHI Exhibition - III -Shuzo TAKIGUCHI & Marcel DUCHAMP- 11/5 - 11/22

No.251) 25th Q Ei Exhibition - Q Ei and Sadajiro KUBO 6/11 - 6/28
No.247) Shuzo TAKIGUCHI Exhibition - II 3/12 - 3/29
No.245) Shuzo TAKIGUCHI Exhibition - I 1/8 - 1/25