Hiraku Suzuki - Traffic: Comments from Ms. Miwa Taguchi, Taguchi Art Collection

Constellation #22 / 2018 / silver ink and Chinese ink on paper, mounted on aluminum / 1395 x 1395 mm


Artwork of Hiraku Suzuki is in the collection and Ms. Taguchi comments as follows.

Hiraku is often credited with “pioneer of drawing for its possibility”. However, I myself could not understand well at first the reason why Hiraku is so hung up with “drawing”, something preparatory for the Painting. Surely drawings of an artist is less expensive than those paintings of the same artist. Drawings are more affordable for a collector who is interested in renowned artists. In addition, drawings are easily installed in a private space compared with paintings selective for space. I used to think that a drawing was an alternative for a painting, in other words, drawings were not indispensable if we can get paintings.

Constellation #21 / 2018 / silver ink and Chinese ink on paper, mounted on aluminum / 695 x 695 mm


Encounter with Hiraku whose drawings are action

I recall our first encounter at Nissan Art Award in 2013. His large installation impressed me with its hieroglyphic drawing among other artists. The next occasion was the solo exhibit in September 2015 that curator Mizuki Endo brought me to the venue, where I was totally seized by the art of Hiraku. The series GENZO that I witnessed there had started already with his trial, in occasion of Kunisaki Art Festival, of drawing in the dark tunnel with black paper and silver spray. Also, I found there a work where he scanned a fragment of wood with spray leaving the silhouette of the objects on the paper. These simple forms reminded me of that of Lascaux, the very starting point of drawing for men, to transcend the existence of the mankind in grand nature. I was then especially touched by the action of the drawings together with its function for registration of the time and venue just like photography, all associated with nature and cosmos.

The installation view of Taguchi Art Collection: Contemporary Art of the 21st Century at The Hiratsuka Art Museum


Collection of GENZO including no.1 created in the tunnel

I was also interested in the lines generated by Hiraku which were about to move with each motif like cell. His interest in organic forms had already been represented in his series of “excavated” leaf vein in the middle of soil on the picture plane from 2000. I was totally captured by Hiraku’s development exploring the horizon of drawing, which resulted with our collection of seven drawings including no.1, created in the tunnel. These drawings are surely unique in the whole collection and is currently on view at the Hiratsuka Art Museum.

bacteria sign #49 / 2018 / earth, dead leaves, acrylic, wooden panel / 550 x 550 mm


Hiraku seems to take many stimulation by collaborating with such creators as Gozo Yoshimasu. His going beyond the border of drawing constantly invites me to his next exhibit.

Miwa Taguchi, Taguchi art Collection


■Taguchi Art Collection: Contemporary Art of the 21st Century
Place: The Hiratsuka Art Museum
Date: April 21 – June 17, closed on Mondays
Click here for details (in Japanese)