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About Nobuyoshi ArakiMaster of sensual provocationNobuyoshi 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…BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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 ReisnerVITA
1940 born in Tokyo, Japan 1963 graduated from the Department of Engineering at Chiba University; majoring in photography and film-making 1974 co-founder of the Workshop Photography School and Magazine, Tokyo 1976 opened Nobuyoshi Araki School, Tokyo 1988 published Aat ROOM Magazine 1990 recipient, Shashin-no-kai Prize from the Photographic Society of Japan 2008 awarded Austrian Decoration of Honor for Science and Arts Lives and works in Tokyo, Japan Exhibitions
2021 Araki, Albertina Modern, Vienna, Austria
Nobuyoshi Araki: Polaroids, Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Nobuyoshi Araki: Arakiss, Ostlicht Gallery, Vienna, Austria2020 ARAKI Grand Diary of a Photo Maniac, Michael Hoppen Gallery, London, UK 2019 Gekko 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, China2018 Impossible 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, USA2017 Nobuyoshi 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, Japan2016 ARAKI 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, France2015 Men Naked Face by Araki, OmotesandoHills SPACE O, Tokyo, Japan
ARAKI Ojo Shashu-Photography for the After Life: Alluring Hell, Foam Photography Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands2014 Ai 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, Japan2013 Tokyo Blues 1977, Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film, Tokyo, Japan 2012 Nobuyoshi Araki Photobook Exhibition: Arākī, IZU PHOTO MUSEUM, Shizuoka, Japan 2011 Shakyō RōjinNikki, Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film, Tokyo, Japan 2010 Nobuyoshi Araki "Koki No Shashin: Photographs of a seventy years old, Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 2009 Araki, Anton Kern Gallery, New York, USA 2008 Nobuyoshi 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, Germany2007 Nobuyoshi Araki: Self. Life. Death, Kulturhuset Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden 2006 Nobuyoshi 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, Germany2005 Art 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 2004 COLD 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 2003 Fables de l´identité Jeu de Paume, Paris Phantom der Lust Neue Galerie, Graz update #6 Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg short cuts Israel Museum, Jerusalem 2002 Keine 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 2001 Kunsthalle 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 2000 Centre National de la Photographie, Paris; Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden; Haus am Waldsee, Berlin; Ars Futura, Zürich; Asprey Jacques, London; Gallerie Kamel Mennour, Paris 1999 Kunsthaus Bregenz; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo: "Sentimental Photography, Sentimental Life"; Egg Gallery, Tokyo; Art & Public, Genf 1998 Private ficcions Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona Deichtorhallen, Hamburg; De Appel, Amsterdam: ""Life Is A Bitch"; Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo: "COSMOSCO" 1996 Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt; Kunsthalle Basel; Jablonka Galerie, Köln 1995 Fondation Cartier, Paris; Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg 1994 Luhring Augustine, New York 1990 Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt 1981 Veröffentlichung "Photograph novel" Fotosammlung und Essay 1972 Performance: "Super Photo Concert" (Selection)