Introduction to Art Archive XXVII: Correspondence-Poetry or Letters and Affects—Shuzo Takiguchi and Shusaku Arakawa/Madeline Gins

03-17-2025〜05-30-2025

At Keio University Art Center

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-poem 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 KUAC, 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, KUAC, 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.

Detail

Introduction to Art Archive XXVII:
Correspondence-Poetry or Letters and Affects—Shuzo Takiguchi and Shusaku Arakawa/Madeline Gins

Date
March 17 (Mon) – May 30 (Fri), 2025
11:00 – 18:00
Closed on Saturday, Sunday, Holidays

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

Related Events

[Exhibition] 
Correspondences and Hyōryūshi [Drifting-poetry]

The exhibition focuses on letters and enclosures sent by Shusaku Arakawa/ Madeline Gins, along with related works and documents. Notably, all 30 vintage postcards created by Arakawa+Gins for the 1974 publication of the Box for Drifting Objects by Edishion-Epābu (Édition Épave) will be displayed for the first time. These will be exhibited alongside postcards sent to Takiguchi, related materials, and works by other artists.

November 7 (Thur), 2024 – February 11 (Tue), 2025
Venue: Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (TAD)
Organized by Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Keio University Art Center
With cooperation of ARAKAWA+GINS Tokyo Office, Reversible Destiny Foundation

For more information: Link

[Symposium] 
Papier Plié 02: Correspondences between Shuzo Takiguchi and Shusaku Arakawa/Madeline Gins — Margin and Blank

Focusing on the correspondences between Shuzo Takiguchi and Shusaku Arakawa/Madeline Gins, we will consider their various issues, and “margin” and “blank” through discussion.

December 7 (Sat), 2024 at 13:00–16:00
Venue: Keio University (Mita Campus), East Research Building G-Lab 6F.
Organized by Keio University Art Center
With cooperation of Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, ARAKAWA+GINS Tokyo Office, Reversible Destiny Foundation

For more information: Link