Nobuyoshi Araki - Pictures, Art, Photography

Nobuyoshi Araki

Background Information about Nobuyoshi Araki

Introduction

Master of sensual provocation

Nobuyoshi Araki is a living legend in the world of photography. He has been active for decades, changing the way we see the world through his work. His consistent desire to push the boundaries of photography as a medium and produce unique viewing experiences has positioned him as both a pioneer and revolutionary. In his diverse repertoire, the polaroids assume a special position. Every day, the artist captures images with his Polaroid 600, categorizes the resulting works, and decides which belong together in an exhibition. Among his most famous series are Flower, ARAKIMONO, KINBAKU, KIRISHIN and PARADISE – all of which have received significant international attention.

His polaroids address themes of love, sexuality, and attraction – but he stages them within the context of an endless metaphysical struggle with the omnipresent morality of existence. He juxtaposes fertility and transience using strong colors and even stronger contrast. Araki is, by definition, a driving force in his field.
His productivity, which does not diminish (even in his 80s), becomes symbolic throughout the images that chronicle evolution and decline.

Throughout the Flower series, Araki showcases the symbolic beauty of flowers in a lush and immersive manner. In a competition of colors, the blossoms wrestle with each other, striving to defeat the darkness of non-existence. Beauty and death are caught in an intimate embrace. Closely related to the Flower works are the pieces in the PARADISE series, which first appeared in 2015. The view widens as individual flowers become lush bouquets complimented by figures such as Geisha dolls or dinosaurs. The artificial and natural blend to form a paradisiacal dream, which evokes a powerful atmosphere of both time and transience.   

Sensuality and eroticism, which are commonly associated with the name Araki, come to life in the photographs of ARAKIMONO; The artist spreads her legs while gazing confidently at the camera, lending a sense of power to her revealing pose. Within the images, Araki uses bondage techniques to tie up female bodies and heighten the pervasive erotic ambiance. The symbolism behind the bondage knots intertwines multiple themes into one powerful piece of artistry.

The KIRISHIN series, originally published in book form, also relies on proven motifs; Images are sliced diagonally and rearranged to create entirely new images. The title of the series functions as a play on words. Japanese terms for cut, feeling, truth, and photography – the guiding principles of Araki's visual art – are compounded. He considers himself a provocateur, using the term Photo Devil to describe his act of transgressing the boundaries of (so-called) good taste.

The scope of Nobuyoshi Araki's portfolio is impressive. More than 500 books contain his work and exhibitions across the globe proudly display his images. Even though his thematic diversity has increased over the years, he has always remained true to his style – a style characterized by proximity and intimacy.

The Polaroids from the Flower, ARAKIMONO, KINBAKU, KIRISHIN and PARADISE series, all of which are hand-signed, come directly from the legendary artist's studio.


Stephan Reisner

Bio

1940born in Tokyo, Japan
1963graduated from the Department of Engineering at Chiba University; majoring in photography and film-making
1974co-founder of the Workshop Photography School and Magazine, Tokyo
1976opened Nobuyoshi Araki School, Tokyo
1988published Aat ROOM Magazine
1990recipient, Shashin-no-kai Prize from the Photographic Society of Japan
2008awarded Austrian Decoration of Honor for Science and Arts
Lives and works in Tokyo, Japan

Exhibitions

2021Araki, Albertina Modern, Vienna, Austria
Nobuyoshi Araki: Polaroids, Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Nobuyoshi Araki: Arakiss, Ostlicht Gallery, Vienna, Austria
2020ARAKI Grand Diary of a Photo Maniac, Michael Hoppen Gallery, London, UK
2019Gekko Shashin, art space AM, Tokyo, Japan
Flower Rondeau, SHOP Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong, China
ARAKI TELLER SHISEI, art space AM, Tokyo, Japan
LIFE BY FILM by Nobuyoshi ARAKI, Leica Gallery Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
SHIMEN AIKA, art space AM, Tokyo, Japan
Effetto Araki, Santa Maria Della Scala, Siena, Italy
SUMMER HAPPINESS, art space AM, Tokyo, Japan
Art Bridge798 Art District, Beijing, China
2018Impossible Love –Vintage Photogragphs, C/O Berlin, Berlin, Germany
KATA-ME, Rat Hole Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Qing Se Hua Fu, Light Society, Beijing, China
HANA JINSEI (FLOWER -LIFE), Over The Influence, Los Angeles, USA
The Passport to the Paraside, art space AM, Tokyo, Japan
The Incomplete Araki: Sex, Life, and Death, Museum of Sex, New York, USA
2017Nobuyoshi Araki-I, Photography, Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, Kagawa, Japan
27th Month of Photography November 2017 Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
ARAKI. TOKYO, Pinakothek der Moderne, Sammlung Moderne Kunst, Munich, Germany
ARAKI, Fondazione Bisazza, Vicenza, Italy
Sentimental Journey 1971-2017-, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Photo-Crazy A, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Tombeau Tokyo Nobuyoshi Araki × Guimet Museum, CHANEL NEXUS HALL, Tokyo, Japan
Kayuen, Epson Imaging Gallery epSITE, Tokyo, Japan
Photographoary: Photo-Mad Old Man A Turning 77 on 5.25.17, Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film, Tokyo, Japan
THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF NOBUYOSHI ARAKI, Over The Influence Gallery, Hong Kong, China
KYOTOGRAPHIE, A Desktop Love, Ryosokuin, Kenninji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tokyo Life, KIDO Press, Tokyo, Japan
Lastby Leica, art space AM, Tokyo, Japan
2016ARAKI AMORE, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan, Italy
ARAMAME, Morioka Shoten Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
A Desktop Paradise, Taka Ishii Gallery Photography Paris, Paris, France
ARAKI, Musée national des arts asiatiques Guimet, Paris, France
2015Men Naked Face by Araki, OmotesandoHills SPACE O, Tokyo, Japan
ARAKI Ojo Shashu-Photography for the After Life: Alluring Hell, Foam Photography Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2014Ai No Tabi, Niigata City Art Museum, Niigata, Japan
Love on the Left Eye, Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
The Photography Book of Rebirth in the Pure Land /Face, Skyscape, Road, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, Aichi, Japan
2013Tokyo Blues 1977, Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film, Tokyo, Japan
2012Nobuyoshi Araki Photobook Exhibition: Arākī, IZU PHOTO MUSEUM, Shizuoka, Japan
2011Shakyō RōjinNikki, Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film, Tokyo, Japan
2010Nobuyoshi Araki "Koki No Shashin: Photographs of a seventy years old, Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2009Araki, Anton Kern Gallery, New York, USA
2008Nobuyoshi Araki: Photographs, Zonca & Zonca, Milan, Italy
Nobuyoshi Araki - Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto, CAMK, Kumamoto, Japan
Nobuyoshi Araki - Silent Wishes, Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
KINBAKU, Jablonka Galerie, Cologne, Germany
2007Nobuyoshi Araki: Self. Life. Death, Kulturhuset Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
2006Nobuyoshi Araki - Diaries, Leica Galerie Wien Westlicht, Vienna, Austria
Araki - Á la vie la mort, Museé de la photographie de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
Noboyoshi Araki - Polaroids, Galleria Cà di Frà, Milan, Italy
Nobuyoshi Araki Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
2005Art Basel Miami Beach 2005 Art Basel Miami Beach
BLUMENSTÜCK Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen
Boost in the Shell // De Bond Aeroplastics, Brüssel
Die sinnliche Linie Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Corpus 05 Brügge Musea Brugge, Brügge
fotografia 2005 fotografia Roma
Coleccion Helga de Alvear Museo Extremeno e Iberoamericano, Badajoz
Der fotografierte Mensch Neues Museum Nürnberg
Europe in Art National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bukarest
Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg Fundacion Juan March, Madrid
CANTOS Casino Luxembourg, Luxemburg
2004COLD PLAY Fotomuseum Winterthur
15 Jahre Deichtorhallen Deichtorhallen, Hamburg
In Bed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, Toyota Aichi
The Flower as Image Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek
Triennale Kleinplastik Fellbach 2004 Triennale Kleinplastik Fellbach
10 Year Anniversary Exhibition Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo
Happiness - A Survival Guide for Art and Life Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
Nobuyoshi Araki Zonca & Zonca, Mailand
Colección Sandretto Re Rebaudengo IVAM Valencia
Strange Days Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
La vita delle forme Galleria Civica Modena
Female Turbulence Aeroplastics, Brüssel
Works Seldom Seen at ShanghART ShanghART Gallery, Shanghai
2003Fables de l´identité Jeu de Paume, Paris
Phantom der Lust Neue Galerie, Graz
update #6 Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg
short cuts Israel Museum, Jerusalem
2002Keine Kleinigkeit Kunsthalle Basel
Trottoirs - Sidewalks Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris
Open City Hirshhorn Museum, Washington
Desire Galleria d´Arte Moderna, Bologna
Retrospektive a-d Miami, Miami; Galerie Kamel Mennour, Paris; Moscow House of Photography, Moskau; Shine Gallery, London
2001Kunsthalle Kiel; Ikon Gallery, London; Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo; Jablonka Galerie, Köln; Galerie Almine Rech, Paris
Contemporary Photography from Japan De Pont, Tilburg
Desire Ursula Blickle Stiftung, Kraichtal
2000Centre National de la Photographie, Paris; Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden; Haus am Waldsee, Berlin; Ars Futura, Zürich; Asprey Jacques, London; Gallerie Kamel Mennour, Paris
1999Kunsthaus Bregenz; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo: "Sentimental Photography, Sentimental Life"; Egg Gallery, Tokyo; Art & Public, Genf
1998Private ficcions Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona
Deichtorhallen, Hamburg; De Appel, Amsterdam: ""Life Is A Bitch"; Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo: "COSMOSCO"
1996Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt; Kunsthalle Basel; Jablonka Galerie, Köln
1995Fondation Cartier, Paris; Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg
1994Luhring Augustine, New York
1990Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt
1981Veröffentlichung "Photograph novel" Fotosammlung und Essay
1972Performance: "Super Photo Concert"
(Selection)