Shuzo Takiguchi and the Artists He Watched Over
I visited a collection exhibition dedicated to Shuzo Takiguchi (1903–1979), an art critic and poet. The venue is The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
Alongside his activities as an art critic, Takiguchi is said to have supported many young artists. This exhibition is built around the artists whose work drew Takiguchi’s interest, alongside works of his own.
He is said to have been the leading figure who introduced Surrealism to Japan, though the show is not framed as a Surrealism exhibition per se.
His interest evidently extended to a wide range of artworks.
Takiguchi himself also worked as a visual artist, and quite a few of his own works were on display. I came away with the impression that many of them showed a fine sensibility.
At the venue, a free booklet including the checklist and commentary for the show was being distributed. Its design is inspired by the “Liberty Passport” that Takiguchi is said to have given to close friends, and it is a very stylish little book.
It was a small show, but you could sense the gaze of a single individual engaging with art, and I found this kind of tightly focused curatorial approach really enjoyable.
