Nobuyoshi Araki

This article is about the photographer. For the Japanese-American director, see Gregg Araki.
Nobuyoshi Araki
Born May 25, 1940
Tokyo, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Known for photographer and contemporary artist
Notable work over 350 photography books, including Sentimental Journey, Tokyo Lucky Hole, and Shino
Website
http://www.arakinobuyoshi.com

Nobuyoshi Araki (荒木 経惟 Araki Nobuyoshi, born May 25, 1940) is a Japanese photographer and contemporary artist. He is also known by the nickname Arākī (アラーキー).

Life and career

Araki was born in Tokyo, studied photography during his college years and then went to work at the advertising agency Dentsu, where he met his future wife, the essayist Yōko Araki (荒木陽子). After they were married, Araki published a book of pictures of his wife taken during their honeymoon titled Sentimental Journey. She died in 1990. Pictures taken during her last days were published in a book titled Winter Journey.

Having published over 350 books by 2005,[1] and still more every year, Araki is considered one of the most prolific artists alive or dead in Japan and around the world. Many of his photographs are erotic; some have been called pornographic. Among his photography books are Sentimental Journey (1971, but later reissued), and Tokyo Lucky Hole (1985).

He also contributed photography to the Sunrise anime series Brain Powerd.

In 1981, Araki directed High School Girl Fake Diary (女高生偽日記 Jokōsei nise nikki), a Roman Porno film for Nikkatsu studio.[2] The film proved to be a disappointment both to Araki's fans, and to fans of the pink film genre.[3]

The Icelandic musician Björk is an admirer of Araki's work, and served as one of his models. At her request he photographed the cover and inner sleeve pages of her 1997 remix album, Telegram. More recently, he has photographed pop singer Lady Gaga. Araki's life and work were the subject of Travis Klose's 2005 documentary film Arakimentari.

Commissioned by Italian luxury label Bottega Veneta, Araki photographed Saskia de Brauw and Sung Jin Park in Tokyo for the brand’s spring/summer 2015 campaign.[4]

Collections

Araki's works are held in numerous museum collections including the Tate[5] and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.[6]

Recognition

In 2008, Araki was awarded the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art.[7]

Personal life

Araki was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, and has since undergone surgery which successfully removed the tumor.[8]

References

  1. ↑ The number depends on such things as how new compilations of previously published are counted. But Kōtarō Iizawa counted 357 in Araki-bon! 1970–2005 (荒木本！ 1970–2005) / A Book of Araki Books! 1970–2005 (Tokyo: Bijutsu Shuppansha, 2006; ISBN 4-568-12071-3). (Despite the alternative title in English, the book is only in Japanese.)
  2. ↑ Sharp, Jasper (2008). Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. Guildford: FAB Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-903254-54-7.
  3. ↑ Weisser, Thomas; Yuko Mihara Weisser (1998). Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films. Miami: Vital Books: Asian Cult Cinema Publications. p. 196. ISBN 1-889288-52-7.
  4. ↑ Alessandra Turra (December 30, 2014), Nobuyoshi Araki Lenses Bottega Veneta Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  5. ↑ tate.org.uk
  6. ↑ sfmoma.org
  7. ↑ "Reply to a parliamentary question" (pdf) (in German). p. 1875. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Kurt Easterwood, "Araki’s latest work born of his fight with cancer," Japanexposures.com, 7 October 2009. Accessed October 24, 2010.

Further reading

External links

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