Akasegawa Genpei
Encyclopedia
is a pseudonym
of Japanese
artist
(born March 27, 1937 in Yokohama
).
He used another pen name for literary works.
movement, along with Ushio Shinohara
, Shusaku Arakawa, and Yoshimura Masanobu. He formed the Hi-Red Center with Jiro Takamatsu and Natsuyuki Nakanishi during this time, which was a group of artists that presented their works as a collective in Japan; they performed happening
s within the Hi-Red Center. Akasegawa was also associated with the avant-garde
.
In 1970s he used the idea of Hyper-Art (chōgeijutsu), an ordinary but useless street object that happened to look like a conceptual artwork
. He called such things Tomasons, (named for Yomiuri Giants
outfielder Gary Thomasson
) and published photographs of them first within the magazine Shashin Jidai and later within books.
As "Katsuhiko Otsuji," he received the Akutagawa Prize
in 1981 for his short story, "Chichi ga kieta". Akasegawa is known for many humorous essays, and his 1998 book Rōjinryoku was a major hit.
Akasegawa is fond of old (used) cameras, especially Leicas, and since 1992, he has joined Yutaka Takanashi
and Yūtokutaishi Akiyama
in the photographers' group Raika Dōmei
, which has held numerous exhibitions.
. The announcement was delivered to several close friends in a cash envelope that was mailed through the postal service. The announcement itself was a 1,000-yen note reproduced in monochromatic colors on the front, with relevant information regarding the exhibit on the back. He produced four more during the next year.
In January 1964, his 1,000-yen note partial reproductions became noticed by the police and he was indicted for creating imitations of banknotes stemming from the 1894 Law Controlling the Imitation of Currency and Securities. The language of the law was quite vague, prohibiting any manufacture or sale of objects with an exterior front that may “be confused for currency or securities”. In August 1966, he went on trial for what was dubbed the "Thousand-Yen Bill Incident". In June 1967, he was found guilty with three months suspended sentence
. He appealed twice. The decision was upheld in 1970.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
(born March 27, 1937 in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
).
He used another pen name for literary works.
Biography
During the 1950s and 1960s, Akasegawa became involved within the Neo-DadaNeo-Dada
Neo-Dada is a label applied primarily to audio and visual art that has similarities in method or intent to earlier Dada artwork. It is the foundation of Fluxus, Pop Art and Nouveau réalisme. Neo-Dada is exemplified by its use of modern materials, popular imagery, and absurdist contrast...
movement, along with Ushio Shinohara
Ushio Shinohara
Ushio Shinohara , nicknamed “Gyu-chan”, is a Japanese Neo-Dadaist artist. His excited, bright, oversized work has exhibited at prestigious institutions internationally, including the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the Guggenheim Museum Soho, New York; the Japan...
, Shusaku Arakawa, and Yoshimura Masanobu. He formed the Hi-Red Center with Jiro Takamatsu and Natsuyuki Nakanishi during this time, which was a group of artists that presented their works as a collective in Japan; they performed happening
Happening
A happening is a performance, event or situation meant to be considered art, usually as performance art. Happenings take place anywhere , are often multi-disciplinary, with a nonlinear narrative and the active participation of the audience...
s within the Hi-Red Center. Akasegawa was also associated with the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
.
In 1970s he used the idea of Hyper-Art (chōgeijutsu), an ordinary but useless street object that happened to look like a conceptual artwork
Found art
The term found art—more commonly found object or readymade—describes art created from undisguised, but often modified, objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function...
. He called such things Tomasons, (named for Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
outfielder Gary Thomasson
Gary Thomasson
Gary Leah Thomasson is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1972-1980.He played in 1981-1982 for the Yomiuri Giants in Japanese Nippon Pro Baseball...
) and published photographs of them first within the magazine Shashin Jidai and later within books.
As "Katsuhiko Otsuji," he received the Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
in 1981 for his short story, "Chichi ga kieta". Akasegawa is known for many humorous essays, and his 1998 book Rōjinryoku was a major hit.
Akasegawa is fond of old (used) cameras, especially Leicas, and since 1992, he has joined Yutaka Takanashi
Yutaka Takanashi
is a Japanese photographer who has photographed fashion, urban design, and city life, and is best known for his depiction of Tokyo.-Life and career:...
and Yūtokutaishi Akiyama
Yūtokutaishi Akiyama
is a Japanese engraver artist, photographer, and occasional politician.Born 1935 in Tokyo, Akiyama studied engraving at Musashino Art School, the predecessor of Musashino Art University, and then worked as an industrial designer for an electrical company...
in the photographers' group Raika Dōmei
Raika Dōmei
is a group of three Japanese photographers and their associates who have worked together on exhibitions and books since 1992.-History and concept:In 1992, the artist, novelist and old-camera enthusiast Genpei Akasegawa, the artist Yūtokutaishi Akiyama, and the photographer Yutaka Takanashi met at...
, which has held numerous exhibitions.
"Thousand-yen bill incident"
In January 1963, Akasegawa sent out invitations to a solo exhibition at a gallery in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. The announcement was delivered to several close friends in a cash envelope that was mailed through the postal service. The announcement itself was a 1,000-yen note reproduced in monochromatic colors on the front, with relevant information regarding the exhibit on the back. He produced four more during the next year.
In January 1964, his 1,000-yen note partial reproductions became noticed by the police and he was indicted for creating imitations of banknotes stemming from the 1894 Law Controlling the Imitation of Currency and Securities. The language of the law was quite vague, prohibiting any manufacture or sale of objects with an exterior front that may “be confused for currency or securities”. In August 1966, he went on trial for what was dubbed the "Thousand-Yen Bill Incident". In June 1967, he was found guilty with three months suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
. He appealed twice. The decision was upheld in 1970.
Publications
- Obuje o motta musansha (オブジェを持った無産者). Tokyo: Gendai Shisōsha, 1970.
- Tuihō sareta yajiuma (追放された野次馬). Tokyo: Gendai Hyōronsha, 1972.
- Sakura gahō gekidō no sen nihyaku gojū ichi (桜画報・激動の千二百五十日). Tokyo: Seirindō, 1974.
- Yume dorobō: Suimin hakubutsushi (夢泥棒：睡眠博物誌). Tokyo: Gakugei Shorin, 1975.
- Chōgeijutsu Tomason (超芸術トマソン). Tokyo: Byakuya Shobō, 1985. Revised: Tokyo: Chikuma Shobō, 1987. ISBN 4-480-02189-2. English translation: Hyperart: Thomasson. New York: Kaya Press, 2010. ISBN 9781885030467.
- Tōkyō mikisā keikaku (東京ミキサー計画). Tokyo: Parco, 1984. Reissue: Tokyo: Chikuma Shobō, 1994. ISBN 4-480-02935-4.
- Rōjinryoku (老人力). Tokyo: Chikuma Shobō, 1998, ISBN 978-4480816061. Reissue: Chikuma Shobō, 2001, ISBN 978-4480036711.
External links
- Official site
- Profile by SCAI The Bathhouse.
- Raika Dōmei