Introduction to Art Archive XXVII: Correspondence-Poetry or Letters and Affects—Shuzo Takiguchi and Shusaku Arakawa/Madeline Gins
Shuzo Takiguchi (1903-1979) and Shusaku Arakawa (1936-2010) inspired each other in various ways. Soon after Arakawa's departure for the United States, the name Madeline Gins (1941-2014) was added to the list of letter senders, and their correspondence continued uninterrupted until Takiguchi's death. Takiguchi called his handmade book, which appeared to be both finished and unfinished, koushin-shi (correspondence-poetry or correspondence-papers), and if we take this concept literally, it refers to the letters.
Among the letters from Arakawa/Gins to Takiguchi, there are a number of quasi-productions that go beyond the transmission of errands and updates through a series of letters, and use humor and witty methods to overuse letters, transforming them into a new medium. For example, they added a new message to an old postcard with a message superimposed on the text, or they added arrows or a few words to a printed image to create a new expression. Since these letters are very private media, they seem to make full use of a kind of esoteric language that only the sender and the receiver can understand. At the same time, however, they generate an open and dense “blank”. We regard the letters (correspondence-poem) as a site of collaboration, and aim to reconsider various issues between Takiguchi and Arakawa/Gins through the “blanks” that stir in the letters.
*This exhibition at Keio University Art Center, the exhibition "Correspondences and Hyōryūshi [Drifting-poetry]" at Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (Shuzo Takiguchi Collection Room) (November, 2024–February, 2025), and the symposium "Papier Plié 02: Correspondences between Shuzo Takiguchi and Shusaku Arakawa/Madeline Gins — Margin and Blank" at Keio University (December, 2024) shares the theme of “Letters”.
Currently, Keio University Art Center, ARAKAWA+GINS Tokyo Office, and Reversible Destiny Foundation are collaborating to research the letters sent by both artists, and this exhibition was based on this project.
Exhibition flyer: Download
Date
March 17 (Mon) – May 30 (Fri), 2025
11:00 – 18:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, April 26th (Sat) – May 6th (Tue)
Temporary closures: April 21st (Mon), May 26th (Mon)
Temporary openings: April 19th (Sat), May 24th (Sat)
*Schedule is subject to change without notice.
Venue
Art Space, Keio University Art Center (KUAC)
(1F Keio University Mita Campus South Annex)
Audience
Everyone welcome
Cost
Admission Free
Enquiries and bookings
Keio University Art Center
2-15-45, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8345, Japan
TEL +81-3-5427-1621
pj.ca.oiek.tsda@ijnet-ca
Exhibition［Introduction to Art Archive XXVII］
Date
March 17 (Mon) – May 30 (Fri), 2025
11:00 – 18:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, April 26th (Sat) – May 6th (Tue)
Temporary closures: April 21st (Mon), May 26th (Mon)
Temporary openings: April 19th (Sat), May 24th (Sat)
*Schedule is subject to change without notice.
Venue
Keio University Art Center
(1F Keio University Mita Campus South Annex, Keio University Art Space)
2-15-45, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8345
JR: Tamachi station on Yamanote and KeihinTohoku Line
Subway: Mita station on Mita and Asakusa Line, Akabanebashi station on Oedo Line
Audience
Everyone welcome
Cost
Admission Free
Enquiries and bookings
Keio University Art Center
2-15-45, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8345, Japan
TEL +81-3-5427-1621
pj.ca.oiek.tsda@ijnet-ca
Organiser(s)
Organized by Keio University Art Center
With cooperation of ARAKAWA+GINS Tokyo Office, Reversible Destiny Foundation, Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design
Visitor Information
The Keio University Art Space is a small exhibition room. If you wish to schedule a group of 15 or more people for a student field trip or other group, please contact the Art Center in advance. We will prepare leaflets and other material to make sure that your visit goes as smoothly as possible. We also ask that everyone in your group take care not to distract or inconvenience other visitors while at the exhibition. You will need to coordinate with the Art Center in advance if you plan to conduct a class or other activities for a field trip in the Keio University Art Space. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.