Contemporary Art Gallery

FUMIO TACHIBANA
IMPRINT/IMPRESS
IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON

Left: Kyutai 1, 2007 /Right: SHOTAI UN-NUN, 2018

This is the first solo exhibition at a museum by artist Fumio Tachibana (born in Hiroshima City in 1968), who makes works with materials and themes of letters, paper and books.
Born into a family of bookbinding business, he was surrounded by paper, printed matter and letters since childhood, and he started to make new forms through “gathering” and “connecting.” After 2000, he explored his own expression in works based on letters/characters using letterpressed materials, photographs taken by a large　format camera and bronze sculptures. He was also active going beyond different genres, being recognized for his superb graphic design for various printed materials ranging from postcards to posters and books. One of the examples is “Kyutai,” a publication he started in 2007 to disseminate his style for which he is responsible for editing and design. The source of his expression originates in the act of touching paper and writing letters. They are linked to the bookbinding factory that his father managed, calligraphy that he was familiar with since childhood, and history and memories of Hiroshima, his birthplace.
In recent years, Tachibana takes up a brush and returns to works that are inspired by calligraphy. This exhibition titled “IMPRINT/IMPRESS” offers an opportunity to come in close touch with Tachibana’s thoughts for creation that are related to printing/print and hieroglyphics (shape/form). This exhibition, Tachibana’s first solo at an art museum comprehensively introduces his production over a quarter of a century along with his new works made for this exhibition.

Photo: Yoichi NAGANO

FUMIO TACHIBANA

Profile

Born in Hiroshima City in 1968. He makes works related to letters, paper and books.
Having made a debut with his solo exhibition “MADE IN U.S.A.” at Sagacho Exhibit Space in 1995, he has been showing his works in and outside Japan. His major solo exhibitions include “OPPORTUNITIES” (2021, Tokyo Biennale 2020/2021), “SHOTAI | shape of my shadow” (2018, Sprout Curation, Tokyo), “PLASTIC” (2016, THE MASS, Tokyo), “Design Tachibana Fumio” (2011, ginza graphic gallery, Tokyo), "L’arbre qui cachait une Incroyable Forêt” (2005 - 2006, SHISEIDO La Beaute, Paris, France), “Hen-Tai” (2001, Gallery 360°, Tokyo).
Major group exhibitions that he participated include “Alternative! Kazuko Koike Exhibition”（2022, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo), “Kaza Ana Air Hole: Another Form of Conceptualism from Asia”（2011, The National Museum of Art, Osaka), “MOT annual 2008: Unraveling and Revealing”（2008, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo), “Installations by Asian Artists in Residence”（1999 – 2000, Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh), “Selection’s Winter ’97” (1997, The Drawing Center, NY).
He publishes “Kyutai,” a publication that he is responsible for editing and design to express his style since 2007 (its 9th edition is due to be published on July 1, 2022). He made a number of artist books including “UNDER THE UMBRELLA” (2020, Hiroshima Kyutai-hen), “Kazashimo (leeward)—Fumio Tachibana (2012, DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion + Hiroshima Kyutai-hen), “CLARA” (2000, Burner Bros.). His books include “Leaves, Fumio Tachibana” (2016, Seibundo Shinkosha), “Katachi no Mikata” (2013, Seibundo Shinkosha).

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