SAIGA Yuji BIOGRAPHY

 

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EXHIBITIONS  REVIEWS

Born in Hyogo, Japan ,1951. Photographer

BIOGRAPHY

2016  My Gunkanjima works was published in "Firenze Architettura". Fiernzee ITALIA
2012  Lecturer at Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan ( (untill Mar.2019)
    A series of "The portrait of the lamps" is begun to "Geijutsu Shinncho" (to 2014)
     ( "Geijutsu Shinncho" is Japanese Art magazine of monthly )"
2004  Superintended the workshop of a photograph (to 2011).
2002  NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) produced and broadcasted a TV Program,
      Hi-Vision Special "Visit the old Roman Cathoric church in Nagasaki -
      Photographer SAIGA yuji's world"
     Lecturer at Tokyo College of Photography.
1994 NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) produced and broadcasted a TV Program,
      "The moonlight was lighting up the Gunkanjima" : History of Gunkanjima and residents in island -
      20 years of Gunkanjima to followed in the photos of SAIGA yuji.
1989  Part-time Lecturer at Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts.(to 1999)
1987  Started to photograph Tenshudo (Ecclesia : the old Roman Cathoric church)
      in Nagasaki (untill 1984).
1984  Returned to Gunkanjima after 10 years . Started to photograph the deserted
      island continuing until now.
1981  Moved to Tokyo.
1976  Receved BA in Design, Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts.
    Worked as Photographer and Graphic designer while working at
      Nagoya College of Creative Arts (untill 1979).
1974  Travelled to Gunkanjima for the first time. When the mines were shut down,
      continued to photograph Gunkanjima until the inhabitants deserted the
      island.
1973  Started to photograph the Kirishitan (Roman Cathorics) in Nagasaki (untill 1984).
    I devote myself to photograph.
1971  Entered Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts majoring in Design.
      Self - studied photography during university years.
1964  Learned about Gunkanjima,12 years old.(Properly Hashima Island - called by
      this name because the silhouette of the island resembled gunkan or battleship.)


AWARDS

1987  Most Excellent Artist Award for Emerging Artist (for the book
      Gunkanjima-Views of an Abandoned Island), by Japanese Government
1976  Kuwabara Prize for outstanding scholarship


SOLO EXHIBITION, TWO PERSON EXHIBITION

2016 "Japon TEXT ÎLE(S) : Gunkanjima, l'île fantôme" Musée-mine (Tarn, France)
      two person exhibition
2002  Shijima, Gallery Wada,Tokyo
1999  Borderland, Yokohama Port side Gallery
      "Borderland" exhibited "GROUND" and "Tsuki no Michi-Borderland"
    Brightness,Tenshudo (Ecclesia : the old Roman Cathoric church),
      Gallery Wada,Tokyo
1993  Tsuki no Michi-Borderland, Photo Gallery International,Tokyo
    Tsuki no Michi-Borderland, Nagasaki Shimbunsha Gallery,Nagasaki
1990  Tenshudo(Ecclesia), Photo Gallery International,Tokyo
    Tenshudo(Ecclesia), Picture Photo Space,Osaka. and etc.
1986  Gunkanjima-Views of an Abandoned Island,Ginza Nikon Salon,Tokyo
    Gunkanjima-Views of an Abandoned Island,Wakita Gallery,Nagoya
    Gunkanjima-Views of an Abandoned Island,Nagasaki Shimbunsha
      Gallery,Nagasaki
1984  Faraway Island, Shinjuku Nikon Salon,Tokyo
1979  Beyond the Tasman Sea, Wakita Gallerly,Nagoya. and etc.
1978  Kirishitan(Roman Cathorics in Japan), Wakita Gallerly,Nagoya
1977  Kirishitan(Roman Cathorics in Japan),Shinjuku Nikon Salon,Tokyo
    Closing-Gunkanjima, Elba Bed Studio, welighnton,NewZealand
    Closing-Gunkanjima, Auckland City Museum,NewZealand
    Closing-Gunkanjima, National Festival of the Arts (by invitation).
      Canterbury Society of Arts, Christchurch, NewZealand
    Closing-Gunkanjima, Ginza Nikon Salon,Tokyo. and etc.


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2013  "Aesthetics of the phtos - Five elements"  Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.
2007-8  "Showa : Photos of 1945 -1989" Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography,
      and others (Traveling Exhibition)
2005  "Photos Nagasaki"  Nagasaki-prefecture art museum
2004-5 "Shrinkng Cities"   Berlin (Germany) and others (Traveling Exhibition).
    "The landscape of the mind"  Kure-city art museum, Kure (Hiroshima)
2001  History of Modern Photos,
      Ginza Nikon Salon,Tokyo. Osaka Nikon Salon(2002)
    Kou Isoda and 7 Artists, Hanshin Depatment Store, Osaka.
      Art and Culture Center of Aichi Prefectur(2002)
1998  Waterproof,Culture Center of Belem, Lisbon, Portugal
1997  Land of Paradox, Traveling Exhibition in Japan:
      Tonami City Museum of Art,Toyama
      Ashiya City Museum of Art & History,Hyogo
      Niigata City Art Museum,Niigata
      Mitaka City Gallery of Art,Mitaka,Tokyo(1998)
    Mr.Tohru Sunouchi and Japanese Modern Arts,
      Traveling Exhibition in Japan:
      Meguro Art Museum,Tokyo
      Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
      Nariwa Museam ,Okayama
      Ehime Prefectural Museam ,Ehime
1996  Land of Paradox, Traveling Exhibition in USA:
      Photographic Resource Center,Boston,
      Ansel Adams Center for Photography,San Francisco,
      Southeast Museum of Photography,Datona Beach,Florida
      Halsey Gallery,College of Charleston,South Carolina(1997)
      The Chrysler Museum of Art,Norfolk,Virginia(1997)
1995  Texture and Touch:Contemporary Japanese Photography,
      The Art Gallery of New South Wales,Sydney,Australia
    The Eyes to Documents and Creation:
      The History of Japanese Contemporary Photography,
      Nabio Museum of Art,Osaka
      Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Depatment Store,Tokyo
    Objects,Faces,and Anti-Narratives:Rethinking Modernism,
      Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
1990  Masterpieces of Ocean Photography Exhibition,
      Shimonoseki City Art Museum,Yamaguchi
1987  Japan Photographer's Society Exhibition (by invitation),
      Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art,Tokyo
      Kyoto City Museum of Art,Kyoto


PUBLICATIONS

(Please refer to "My Books.")

2004  Tenshudo : Architectures filled in light, Tankohsha Publishing Co.,Ltd., Japan
2003  Gunkanjima : Awakening of a Dead Island, Tankohsha Publishing Co.,Ltd., Japan
2000  LUNA CORNEA 19, Joint work, Centro de la Imagen, Mexico
1997  Land of Paradox, Joint work by four photographers,
     Tankohsha Publishing Co.,Ltd., Japan
1993  Tuki no Michi-Borderland, Shinchosha, Japan
1990  Tenshudo(Ecclesia), Shinchosha, Japan
    Story of Tenshudo, Shinchosha, Japan
1986  Gunkanjima-Views of an Abandoned Island, Shinchosha, Japan


PABLIC CLLECTIONS

    Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
    Japan Photographer's Society
    Aichi Prefectural University of Arts
    Kure Municipal Museum of Art


SELECTED REVIEWS 1977-2004

2016 Andrea Volrpe. "Yuji Saiga: the island of (neverland) foreverland" Firenze Architettura
2015 Gunkanjima "Nihon camera"
2004  Iizawa,Kohtaro.
2003  Kagawa,Takashi. "Gunkanjima: Awakening of a Dead Island" Geography, Jul.2003
    Ohta,Seiichiro. "SAIGA Yuji who takes the world that heterogeneous
     time flows through" Nishi-Nippon Shimbun (News Paper), May. 24
    Imaizumi,Aiko. "Gunkanjima" Pen, Jun 1, No.107. TBS Britanica
    Kuramoto,Shiro. "Gunkanjima: Awakening of a Dead Island"
     Syukan Post May 2, Shogakukan
    Takahashi,shinichi. "Gunkanjima" Syukan Kinyobi, Apr 18, #456
    Kasahara,Michiko. "Strange things",Gunkanjima: Awakening of a Dead Island.
      Tankosha Publishing Co.,Ltd.
2001  Tanaka,Chotoku. "Gunkanjima" Masterpieces 59+1 of Japanese Photography,
      Alphabeta
2000  Gola,Patricia."Gunkanjima,1974 - 1994. Yuji Saiga"
      LUNA CORNEA 19, Centro de la Imagen, Mexico
1999  Iizawa,Kohtaro."Thoughts on the Borderland : SAIGA yuji's Gunkanjima,"
      LOOK JAPAN, May
    Miyoshi,Masashi. "Ground Spirit of Gunkanjima," Geijutsu Shincho,March
    Sugita,Atsushi. "Borderland : Island of sight" Exhibition Pamphlet
1998  Enari,Tsuneo. "Tuki no Michi-Borderland : Accumulated time and space,"
      Fascination of Monochrome Photography,Shinchosha
1997  Annas, Teresa. "Photographers Capture the Contradictions of Japanese Life,"
      The Virginia Pilot, March 30, USA
    Dorsey, Catherine. " Paradox at the Chrysler," Port Folio Magazine, no.11,
      March 25, USA
    Koplos, Janet. " Through a Japanese Viewfinder," Art in America no.3,
      March 14, USA
    Murphy, James. "Contemporary Japanese Photography," Art Papers,
      January - February, USA   
    Iizawa,Kohtaro."The Anatomy of Ruins in Photography," Haikyo-Taizen,Treville
1996  Bonetl, David."Artistic Reflections of Japan," San Francisco Examiner,
      April 26, USA
    Baker, Kenneth. "Pointed Postcards From Modern Japan," San Francisco Chronicle,
      April 20, USA
    Fuku,Noriko." Land of Paradox" Exhibition Catalog
    Grundberg, Andy. "Beyond Redemption : Notes on the New Landscape,"
      Exhibition Catalog
1995  Menzies, Jackie. "Texture and Touch" LOOK, The Art Gallery of New South Wales,
      October 1995, Australia
    Iizawa,Kohtaro."The Photographers and Their Times #13 - Yuji Saiga,"
      Nishi-Nippon Shimbun (News Paper), June 30
1994  Kasahara,Michiko."A New Image in Photograph Collections,"
      Japanese Book News,No.5, The Japan Foundation
    Caputo,Kim Zone(editor). Blind Spot,Issue 3
1993  Yamagishi,Koko."Borderline to Deth," Asahi Camera,July
    Kasahara,Michiko."Tsuki no Michi", Prints 21,June
    "Tsuki no Michi-Sea,Moonlight,Gunkanjima,"Asahi Shimbun,April 4
1990  Akasegawa,Genpei."Gunkanjima:What is a Pafection?"
      U no Me Taka no Me,December
    Miyake,Riichi."Architectural Dreams and Ruins-Gunkanjima,"
      Kenchiku Chishiki,October
    Akiyama,Yuriko."Yuji Saiga Publishes 'Tenshudo,'"
      The Sankei Shimbun(News Paper),May 5
    Kuwabara,Kineo."Unusual Saiga's Eyes, Beautiful Image,"
      Nippon Camera,April
1989  Tamada,Kenichiro & Suda,Issei."Photography Now-Ghastly Approach
      to Gunkanjima,A Ruined Island under the Moonlight,"Asahi Camera,May
1987  Iizawa,Kohtaro."The Image of Gunkanjima,"Wacoa,vol.7,June
    Nishii,Kazuo."Five Best Books in 1986," Mizue,January
1986  Yamazaki,Koichi."Wonders of Scenery:Now,Landscape Photography
      is Hot!",Popeye,vol.235,Novenber 19
    Miyata,Akira."Yuji Saiga and His Exhibition : Gunkanjima-Views of
      an Abandoned Island,"Asahi Shimbun(News Paper),Novenber 11
    Nishi,Kazuo."Objects Resusciate in Ruins,"The Sunday Mainichi, Novenber 2
    Miki,Jun."Gunkanjima-Views of an Abandoned Island," Nikkor Club,Fall
    Kuwabara,Kineo."New Generations Current of the Time," Rokkor,October
    Matsuyama,Iwao."When Humen Beings Disappear,Objects Return to Nature,"
      Syukan Bunshun,October
    Nakaoka,Yasuo."The Man-Yuji Saiga, He publishes Gunkanjima-Views of an
      Abandoned Island,"Asahi Shimbun(News Paper),September 18
    Iizawa,Kohtaro."Now,Archtectural Photographs are Interesting,"
      Nippon Camera,August
1985  Yamanura,Masaaki."Faraway Island,"Nikkor Club,111 Early Spring
1984  Taniguchi, Miyabi."Finished, to described the reviews while 2 years,"
      Nippon Camera,December
1978  Tanaka,Masao." Exhibition in 1977," Asahi Camera,June
    Watanabe,Tsutom."Exhibition : Kirishitan(Roman Cathorics in Japan),"
      Asahi Camera, January
1977  Watanabe,Tsutom."Exhibition : Closing Gunkanjima,"Asahi Camera,July
    Sammers, John. "Life-affirming show," Christchurch star, May 23, NewZealand
    "Coal Camp images," THE PRESS, May 17, NewZealand

BIOGRAPHY  EXHIBITIONS


 

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