Shinkichi Tajiri
Encyclopedia
Shinkichi Tajiri was a Dutch-American sculptor of Japanese ancestry (a nisei
or second generation emigrant from Japan). He was also active in painting
, photography
and cinematography
.
, a working class neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was the fifth of seven children born to Ryukichi Tajiri and Fuyo Kikuta, first generation emigrants (issei
), who moved from Japan to the United States in 1906 and 1913.
In 1936, the family relocated to San Diego. His father died when he was fifteen. In 1940, Tajiri received his first lessons in sculpture from Donal Hord
.
in Arizona. He was a soldier, with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, like his brother Vincent. They fought in Europe, from 1943 on and he was wounded in Italy. Shinkichi went back to Chicago to study at the Art Institute from 1946 to 1948.
In 1949 he went to Paris to study with Ossip Zadkine
and then Fernand Léger
. He met Karel Appel
and Corneille
in Paris and shows at the 1949 COBRA
exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum
, Amsterdam. In 1951 he went to Germany and taught at the Werkkunstschule Wuppertal. In 1955 he won a Golden Palm at Cannes, for his first short film, The Vipers
, because of his experimental use of the language of film. From 1956 he lived in the Netherlands, since 1962 in Baarlo. He worked as a sculptor and painter. He exhibted at the famous Kassel documenta
II, 1959; III, 1964 and IV, 1968. From 1969 Tajiri Shinkichi taught at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste at Berlin. 1969 and 1970 Shinkichi took pictures of every part of the Berlin Wall
. In 1975 and 1976 he recreated the Daguerreotype
: surreal portraits, nudes and daguerreotypes of the Wall.
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
or second generation emigrant from Japan). He was also active in painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
.
Childhood and education
Tajiri was born in WattsWatts, Los Angeles, California
Watts is a mostly residential neighborhood in South Los Angeles, California.-History:The area now known as Watts is located on the Rancho La Tajauta Mexican land grant...
, a working class neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was the fifth of seven children born to Ryukichi Tajiri and Fuyo Kikuta, first generation emigrants (issei
Issei
Issei is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America, South America and Australia to specify the Japanese people first to immigrate. Their children born in the new country are referred to as Nisei , and their grandchildren are Sansei...
), who moved from Japan to the United States in 1906 and 1913.
In 1936, the family relocated to San Diego. His father died when he was fifteen. In 1940, Tajiri received his first lessons in sculpture from Donal Hord
Donal Hord
Donal Hord , an American sculptor, was born Donald Horr in Prentice, Wisconsin. His parents divorced when he was about 6 years old; and around that time his mother changed his name, taking the second "d" from "Donald" and substituting it for the second "r" in "Horr", thus creating the name Donal...
.
Life and work
In 1942, Tajiri's family was evacuated to Poston War Relocation CenterPoston War Relocation Center
The Poston War Relocation Center, located in Yuma County of southwestern Arizona, was the largest of the ten American internment camps operated by the War Relocation Authority during World War II....
in Arizona. He was a soldier, with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, like his brother Vincent. They fought in Europe, from 1943 on and he was wounded in Italy. Shinkichi went back to Chicago to study at the Art Institute from 1946 to 1948.
In 1949 he went to Paris to study with Ossip Zadkine
Ossip Zadkine
Ossip Zadkine was a Belarusian-born artist who lived in France. He is primarily known as a sculptor, but also produced paintings and lithographs.-Early years and career:...
and then Fernand Léger
Fernand Léger
Joseph Fernand Henri Léger was a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker. In his early works he created a personal form of Cubism which he gradually modified into a more figurative, populist style...
. He met Karel Appel
Karel Appel
Christiaan Karel Appel was a Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet. He started painting at the age of fourteen and studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in the 1940s...
and Corneille
Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo
Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo , better known under his pseudonym Corneille, was a Dutch artist.Corneille was born in Liege, Belgium, although his parents were Dutch and moved back to the Netherlands when he was 12. He studied art at the Academy of Art in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands...
in Paris and shows at the 1949 COBRA
COBRA (avant-garde movement)
COBRA was a European avant-garde movement active from 1948 to 1951. The name was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members' home cities: Copenhagen , Brussels , Amsterdam .-History:...
exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum
Stedelijk Museum
Founded in 1874, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a museum for classic modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It has been housed on the Paulus Potterstraat, next to Museum Square Museumplein and to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the Concertgebouw, in Amsterdam Zuid...
, Amsterdam. In 1951 he went to Germany and taught at the Werkkunstschule Wuppertal. In 1955 he won a Golden Palm at Cannes, for his first short film, The Vipers
The Vipers
The Vipers were an Irish new wave group of the late 1970s. An incendiary live act fronted by Paul Boyle and virtuoso guitarist George Sweeney, they built up a loyal following in their home country and toured with the likes of The Clash and The Jam....
, because of his experimental use of the language of film. From 1956 he lived in the Netherlands, since 1962 in Baarlo. He worked as a sculptor and painter. He exhibted at the famous Kassel documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
II, 1959; III, 1964 and IV, 1968. From 1969 Tajiri Shinkichi taught at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste at Berlin. 1969 and 1970 Shinkichi took pictures of every part of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
. In 1975 and 1976 he recreated the Daguerreotype
Daguerreotype
The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silvered copper plate....
: surreal portraits, nudes and daguerreotypes of the Wall.
Sources
- Jörg Kirchbaum, Lexikon der Fotografen, Frankfurt am Main: Fischer TB, 1981, P. 183
- Claudia Bulk, Tajiri, Shinkichi, in: Reinhold Mißelbeck, editor, Prestel- Lexikon der Fotografen, München: Prestel, 2002, P. 235
Catalogues
- Spiegel mit Erinnerungen, Shiunkichi Tajiris Wiederentdeckung der Daguerreotypie. Exhibition, catalogue, Künstlerhaus Bethanien: Berlin, editor, 1977
- Stereoscopic Views by Tajiri, Exhibition, catalogue, Stedelijk Museum: Amsterdam, editor, 1979