Shuzo TAKIGUCHI


Poet, art critic, and artist. Born in Toyama Prefecture. A spiritual and theoretical pillar of avant-garde art before and after World War II. He came to know Surrealism through Junzaburo Nishiwaki and devoted his life to the introduction and spread of it. While studying at Keio University, he translated A. Breton’s “Surrealism and Painting” (Kouseikaku Shoten, 1930) and wrote a series of experimental poems considered masterpieces of avant-garde poetry. After graduating in 1931, he worked at PCL, a film production company until around 1936, while corresponded with Breton and others, translated surrealist literature and criticism, and also mentored a number of avant-garde artists’ groups. In 1937, he held the “Surrealism in Western Countries exhibition” (at the Nippon Salon in Ginza, etc.) with Chiruu Yamanaka. Although Surrealist group at the time was intensely hostile to the Comintern, he was arrested with Ichiro Fukuzawa as the communist sympathizers in April 1941 by the special higher police. After his release in November, with stay of execution, he was placed under probation and his activities were suppressed. After the war, he developed a variety of activities, sometimes he is considered as a “witness of the times”. He was trusted by young artists for his insightful reviews of exhibitions such as the Yomiuri Independents (1949-1963). From 1951 to 1957, at the request of Takemiya, an art materials shop in Surugadaishita, Kanda, he ran Takemiya Gallery and nurtured artists such as On Kawara and Yayoi Kusama through 208 exhibitions. He also looked after the activities of “Experimental Workshop” formed in 1951 by Shozo Kitadai, Katsuhiro Yamaguchi, Toru Takemitsu, Joji Yuasa, and others as the one who named it. In 1958, he visited Europe as the commissioner of Japan for the Venice Biennale and voted for the Italian representative for sculpture L. Fontana in both the painting and sculpture categories, and then returned to Japan after meeting with Breton, M. Duchamp, S. Dali. After 1960, he shifted the focus of his writing from art criticism to exhibition preface, and also began to produce his own watercolors and Décalcomanies, held about six solo exhibitions. While resigning from public positions, such as the National Museum of Modern Art operating committee (1952-1964), he volunteered as a special counsel for Genpei Akasegawa’s “One-Thousand-Yen-Note Trial” (1965-1970). In 1963, he conceived the idea of opening a fictional “Object Shop” and asked Duchamp to baptize and to name the shop. Duchamp gave him the famous female pseudonym “Rose Sélavy”, and in return, he published “To and From Rrose Sélavy -Selected Words of Marcel Duchamp” (see below). He continued to engage in Duchamp’s research and passed away from a myocardial infarction.

His books include “Kindai Geijutsu (Modern Art)” (Mikasa Shobo, 1938); “Miro” (Atelier, 1940); “Genso Gakka-ron (Fantastic Artists)” (Shinchosha, 1959); “Yohaku ni Kaku (MARGINALIA)” (Misuzu Shobo, 1966); “Takiguchi Shuzo no Shiteki Jikken 1927–1937 (Takiguchi Shuzo’s Poetic Experiments 1927–1937)” (Shichosha, 1967); “Surrealism no Tameni (For Surrealism)” (Serika Shobo, 1968).

Collaborative works with artists include “Yosei no Kyori (Distance of a Fairy)” (Shunchokai, 1937) with Yoshibumi (Nobuya) Abe; “Sphinx" (Sadajiro Kubo, private edition, 1954) with Tamiji Kitagawa, Q-Ei and others; “To and From Rrose Sélavy -Selected Words of Marcel Duchamp” (Rrose Sélavy Tokyo, 1968) with Duchamp, J. Johns, J. Tinguely and Shusaku Arakawa; “Tezukuri Kotowaza (MA DE PROVERBIS A JOAN MIRO)” (Polygrafa, 1970) and “Miró no Hoshi to Tomoni (In the company of Miro’s Stars)” (Heibonsha, 1978) with J. Miró; “Kenganzu (Oculist Witnesses after Marcel Duchamp)” (Rrose Sélavy Tokyo, 1977) with Kazuo Okazaki.

(Text by Nobuhiko TSUCHIBUCHI)

 


Joan Miro and Takiguchi Shuzo Collaborative Work
"Handmade Proverbs for Joan Miro" English ver.

1970
Lithograph
Sheet size: 110×77.3cm


Joan Miro and Takiguchi Shuzo Collaborative Work
"Handmade Proverbs for Joan Miro" French ver.

1970
Lithograph
Sheet size: 110×77.3cm


Joan Miro and Takiguchi Shuzo Collaborative Work
"Handmade Proverbs for Joan Miro" Italian ver.

1970
Lithograph
Sheet size: 110×77.3cm


"V-04"

Ink on paper
Image size: 32.5×24.5cm
Sheet size: 35.5×25.0cm


"V-12"

Delcalcomanie on paper
Image size: 9.3×11.7cm
Sheet size: 9.8×13.7cm

 


"V-21"

Decalcomanie on paper
Image size: 19.7×13.7cm
Sheet size: 19.7×13.7cm


"V-31"

Decalcomanie on paper
Image size: 12.5×7.6cm
Sheet size: 17.8×12.8cm


"V-44"

Decalcomanie on paper
Image size: 14.5×11.2cm
Sheet size: 26.1×19.4cm
*"Shuzo TAKIGUCHI's Artificial Experimentations" (2001) paired with No.207


"Strip dessin" (V-08)

1962
Watercolor and ink on paper
Image size: 33.5×21.0cm
Sheet size: 37.5×29.0cm
Titled and dated on the back

"III-26"

Decalcomanie on paper
Image size: 12.7×9.3cm
Sheet size: 19.4×13.1cm
* In pair with III-27

"III-27"

Decalcomanie on paper
Image size: 12.3×9.0cm
Sheet size: 19.2×13.1cm
* In pair with III-27


"II-2"

Decalcomanie, watercolor, paper
Image size: 13.6×9.9cm
Sheet size: 13.6×9.9cm

No.4 from "For that day, for this day, and tonight"

1961
Drawing on paper
Image size: 25.0×16.7m
Sheet size: 25.0×17.3cm

No.15 from "For that day, for this day, and tonight"

1961
Drawing on paper (watercolor)
Image size: 23.0x16.0cm
Sheet size: 25.0x17.4cm


No.7 from "For that day, for this day, and tonight"

1961
Drawing on paper (watercolor)
Image size: 25.0x17.5cm
Sheet size: 25.0x17.0cm
SOLD

"Work"

1962
Watercolor
Image size: 27.0×17.5cm
Frame size: 40.0×30.5×1.5cm
Signed on both sides and on the mount
*Exhibition sticker attached for "Japon des Avant-gardes" at Pompidou Center, Paris
SOLD

<To and from Rrose Sélavy>

1968
Book, prints, and multiples
35.0×27.5×4.0cm
Signed
SOLD


"IV-03"

1961
Watercolor on paper
Image size: 9.7×9.0cm
Sheet size: 12.3×9.0cm
Signed on the back of the frame

"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

SOLD


"III-3"

Decalcomanie, paper
Image size: 13.7×9.8cm
Sheet size: 13.7×9.8cm
SOLD

"III-14"

Decalcomanie, paper
Image size: 18.5×13.9cm
Sheet size: 18.5×13.9cm
SOLD

"III-32"

Decalcomanie, paper
Image size: 18.0×13.0cm
Sheet size: 26.2×19.1cm
* In pair with III-33


"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
SOLD


"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"


"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
SOLD

"II-27"

Decalcomanie
Image size: 13.5×10.5cm
Sheet size: 18.4×12.3cm
* In pair with "II-26"
SOLD


"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


"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


"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


"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

SOLD



"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


"II-1"

Decalcomanie, watercolor, paper
Image size: 14.0×12.3cm
Sheet size: 15.1×12.3cm
SOLD

"A souvenir or not of Philadelphia"

1973
Hand made booklet
20.5×14.0cm
(Chiba City Museum of Art, p.176 No.200)

SOLD



"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


"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


"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



"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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



"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


"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


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 Signed by Shuzo TAKIGUCHIi, Tamiji KITAGAWA, Sadajiro KUBO and Tadao FUKUSHIMA

 

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

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If you have any question, an artist of interest, or a work you are looking for, please write in the box below.


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Exhibitions
2024
120th Anniversary TAKIGUCHI Shuzo V 4/5 - 4/20


2023
Takiguchi Shuzo and artists-Seike Collection(Auction) 7/7 - 7/15


2022
100th Anniversary KOMAI Tetsuro Exhibition Part 2 KOMAI Tetsuro and TAKIGUCHI Shuzo    2/8 - 2/26


2021
Gallery Collection of Summer - Q Ei, TAKIGUCHI Shuzo, ONOSATO Toshinobu    6/29 - 7/10


2017
Weekly Special Collection: Shuzo TAKIGUCHI and Marcel DUCHAMP    10/24 - 10/28


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


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