During the 1950s and 1960s, artist and poet Shigeki Kitani (1928-2009) forged an accomplished style of highly varied abstraction that captured the spirit of age while retaining a distinctive individuality. Soon after his graduation in 1952 from a conventional art-college training, he fell under the spell of Jirō Yoshikawa, charismatic co-founder of the Gutai Art Association that would play such a central role in the development of the postwar Japanese avant-garde. Kitani did not become an official member of Gutai until 1965, but the Osaka Circle of the Free Art Association-his own artistic grouping during the 1950s-had a similar ideology: opposition to conservatism and subservience and a denial of the "deceptions and errors" of existing artistic organizations.
Thomsen Gallery's selection of Kitani's work cover the full range of this extraordinary but neglected artist's early career. Canvases from the 1950s and early 1960s demonstrate his mastery of a gritty yet lyrical revolutionary abstraction shot through with primal, chthonic energy, on a par with or even superior to his contemporaries. The rugged materiality and simplicity of these compositions clearly reflects the ideals of the Gutai Manifesto, published by Yoshihara in December 1956, yet many of them are inflected with a wistful lyricism, reminding us that Kitani was also a leading modernist poet.
It is little wonder that Yoshihara eventually recruited Kitani into the ranks of Gutai in a bid to breathe new life into the group. Kitani responded by creating the Torso series, a group of works combining colorful painting and sculpture with a daring originality that achieved immediate international recognition. Our five pieces from 1965 to 1968-the period of the artist's full participation in Gutai-include two from the Torso series, one shown in Europe in 1966 and other at three exhibitions in Japan, including the major Gutai retrospective held in 2012. Both works, along with many others in Thomsen Gallery, were preserved for many years at the Museum of Art and History in Ashiya City, birthplace of Gutai. Our latest work, Mama of Eros (1969), points to the artist's growing interest in Japan's ancient history, Shinto myth, and the primal, chthonic energy that also infused his earlier practice.
AN OUTLINE BIOGRAPHY
This first outline biography of Shigeki Kitani has been prepared from notebooks, newspaper clippings, and online resources, as well as the catalogues and other printed works listed in the Bibliography. While it does not claim to be a comprehensive listing of all the significant events in Kitani’s long and eventful creative life, we hope that it will provide a useful framework for future studies of the artist. Events are listed in chronological order by year, starting with those for which the exact month is not known; some event dates have been estimated on the basis of press reports and other documents. References to the more substantial reviews of Kitani’s exhibitions are also included.
1928
December 29. Born in Hōjōmachi, Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture
1941
Graduates from HōjōElementary School, Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture
1945
March. Graduates from Ono Junior High School, Hyogo Prefecture
Joins the preparatory pilot training course of the Imperial Japanese Navy, but the war ends before he is sent into battle
1945-1946
Works as an agricultural laborer for about a year, then trains as a lathe operator
1947-1949
Serves as leader of the labor union youth division at a factory in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, and organizes a strike; starts to paint and write poetry; works briefly in a tax office and a local government office
1950
Enrolls in Yōga (Western Painting) Department of Kyoto Municipal Specialist School of Painting (now Kyoto City University of Arts)
1951
June. Six-artist exhibition, Maruzen, Kyoto
1952
Completes his studies under the painters KunitarōSuda 須田国太郎 and JūtarōKuroda 黒田重太郎; graduates from the Yōga (Western Painting) Department of Kyoto Municipal Specialist School of Painting (now Kyoto City University of Arts); travels briefly to Tokyo
1953
Around this time, joins the artistic circle of JirōYoshihara 吉原治良, co-founder of the Gutai movement
Seventeenth Jiyūbijutsu ten 自由美術展 (Free Art Exhibition); held by the JiyūBijutsuka Kyōkai 自由美術家協会 (Free Artists Association), founded in 1937 by SaburōHasegawa 長谷川三郎 and others
1954
Eighteenth Jiyūbijutsu ten 自由美術展 (Free Art Exhibition)
August. Gutai Bijutsu Kyōkai 具体美術協会 (Gutai Art Association) founded by JirōYoshihara 吉原治良 and sixteen others
1955
Nineteenth Jiyūbijutsu ten自由美術展(Free Art Exhibition)
September 9–14. JiyūBijutsu Kyōkai Ōsaka sākuru ten 自由美術協会大阪サークル展 (Exhibition of the Free Art Association Osaka Circle), Sogōそごう Department Store, Osaka; shows three works entitled Shōten 昇天 (Ascension)
1956
Kansai sōgōbijutsu ten 関西総合美術展 (Kansai Total Arts Exhibition)
July 27–August 5. Second Gutai yagai ten 具体野外展 (Gutai Outdoor Exhibition), Ashiya Park; participates as an unofficial member of Gutai and exhibits an installation of 100 ceramic plates
November 27–December 4. Twentieth Jiyūbijutsu ten自由美術展(Free Art Exhibition), Ōsaka Shiritsu Bijutsukan 大阪市立美術館 (Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts)
1957
Publishes first edition of poetry anthology Omae おまえ (see Bibliography)
1958
Kansai sōgōbijutsu ten 関西総合美術展 (Kansai Total Arts Exhibition)
1959
Kansai sōgōbijutsu ten 関西総合美術展 (Kansai Total Arts Exhibition)
September. Exhibition of painting and poetry at Tōden Sābisu Sentā東電サービスセンター (Tokyo Electric Service Center), Tokyo
September 3–9. Second JiyūBijutsuka Kyōkai Ōsaka sākuru ten 自由美術家協会大阪サークル展 (Exhibition of the Osaka Circle of the Free Artists’ Association), Shinsaibashi Foto Gyararī心斎橋フォトギャラリー (Shinsaibashi Photo Gallery), Osaka; shows Furui furui tōyōno uta, watakushi no uta古い古い東洋の歌·私の歌 (Old, Old Far Eastern Song, My Song, see cat. no. 3)
1960
Starts to contribute to the poetry magazines Jikan 時間 and Kata 片
Kansai sōgōbijutsu ten 関西総合美術展 (Kansai Total Arts Exhibition)
November. Re-publishes poetry anthology Kitani Shigeki shishū: Omae 喜谷繁暉詩集：おまえ (see Bibliography)
1961 or 1962
Maruzen Sekiyu geijutsu shōreishōten丸善石油芸術奨励賞展(Maruzen Petroleum Art-Promotion Prize Exhibition); shows Fūkei 4風景4 (Landscape 4, see cat. no. 18)
1961
Publishes poetry anthology Shishūtadayou heya 詩集漂う部屋 (see Bibliography)
October 2–8. Solo exhibition, Ōsaka Garō大阪画廊 (Osaka Gallery), featuring 30 oil paintings and 30 paintings with poems
1962
May 9–30. Fifth Gendai Nihon bijutsu ten 現代日本美術展 (Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan), TōkyōToritsu Bijutsukan 東京都立美術館 (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum)
1963
October 14–20. Three-man show with Hiroshi Kunimata 国又宏 and Tadashi Kawakami 川上忠, Nūnu Garōヌーヌ画廊 (Nunu Gallery), Osaka
1964
Publishes poetry anthology Zōno mura 象の村 (see Bibliography)
Starts to contribute to the poetry magazine Ryū 龍
1965
July 1–20, Fifteenth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展 (Gutai Art Exhibition), Gutai Pinacotheca 具体ピナコテカ, Osaka; exhibits as a non-member of Gutai
July. Becomes an official member of the Gutai Art Association on the introduction of Kazuo Shiraga 白髪一雄
October 8–13. Sixteenth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展(Gutai Art Exhibition), KeiōHyakkaten 京王百貨店 (Keio Department Store), Tokyo; shows works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series (see cat. nos. 29, 31)
November 1–14. Solo exhibition at Kōbe Garō神戸画廊 (Kobe Gallery); reviewed by Kazuo Akane 赤根和生 in Yomiuri shinbun 読売新聞, November 6, 1965 and Bijutsu techō美術手帖, January 1966; anonymous review in Bijutsu jānaru 美術ジャーナル, no. 56, January 15, 1966
December 1–10. Gutai bijutsu shōhin ten 具体美術小品展 (Gutai Exhibition for Small Works), Gutai Pinacotheca 具体ピナコテカ, Osaka
December 16–27. Nijūnin no hōhōten 20人の方法展 (Methodologies of 20 Artists Exhibition), Shinanobashi Garō信濃橋画廊 (Shinanobashi Gallery), Osaka (opening exhibition); reviewed in Bijutsu techō 美術手帖, March 1966
1966
Publishes poetry anthology Emaki: Shishū 絵巻：詩集 (see Bibliography)
January 21–February 27. Gendai bijutsu no shinsedai ten 現代美術の新世代展 (New Generation of Contemporary Art Exhibition), Kokuritsu Kindai Bijutsukan 国立近代美術館 (National Museum of Modern Art), Tokyo; shows Toruso 12 トルソ (Torso 12, see cat. no. 31); reviewed by Takahiko Okada 岡田隆彦 in SD (Space Design), no. 15, March 1966
April. Nul1966, Internationale Galerij Orez, The Hague, Netherlands
June 12–October 2. Second Salon International des Galeries Pilotes, Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Palais de Rumine, Lausanne, Switzerland; shows Toruso トルソ (Torso, see cat. no. 29); reviewed by Raoul-Jean Moulin in Cimaise: Art et Architecture Actuels (Present Day Art and Architecture), vol. 13 no. 76 (May–July 1966), pp. 24–34
May 10–30. Seventh Gendai Nihon bijutsu ten 現代日本美術展 (Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan), TōkyōToritsu Bijutsukan 東京都立美術館(Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum)
September 1–12. Shikisai chōkoku ten 色彩彫刻展 (Colored Sculpture Exhibition), GyararīAzuchi ギャラリー安土 (Gallery Azuchi), Osaka; reviewed in Asahi shinbun 朝日新聞, evening edition, September 5, 1966
September 10–15 and October 1–10. Seventeenth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展(Gutai Art Exhibition), Takashimaya Hyakkaten 高島屋百貨店 (Takashimaya Department Store), Yokohama, and Gutai Pinacotheca 具体ピナコテカ, Osaka; shows works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series (see cat. nos. 29, 31)
November 1–6. Han-Setouchi gendai bijutsu ten 汎瀬戸内美術展 (All-Setouchi Contemporary Art Exhibition), SōgōBunka SentāBijutsukan 総合文化センター美術館 (Cultural Center Art Museum), Okayama
December 5–18. Kettaina akusesarīshō ケッタイナ·アクセサリー·ショー (Weird Accessory Show), OS GarōOS画廊 (OS Gallery), Osaka
1967
Minami Nihon gendai bijutsu ten 南日本現代美術展 (Southern Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition), Kōchi
April 2–7. Second Furansu seifu ryūgakusei senbatsu Mainichi bijutsu konkūru nyūsen sakuhin ten フランス政府留学生選抜毎日美術コンクール入選作品展 (Mainichi Art Concours Exhibition of Works Submitted by Artists Applying for French Government Travel Scholarships), Kyōto-shi Bijutsukan 京都市美術館 (Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art); exhibits Sakuhin 66-24 作品66-24 (Work 6-24)
May 26–July 8. The Gutai Group Osaka Japan, Experiment Studio, Rotterdam, Netherlands
June 1–10. Gutai bijutsu shinsaku ten 具体美術新作展(Gutai New Works Exhibition), later documented as Eighteenth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展 (Gutai Art Exhibition), Gutai Pinacotheca 具体ピナコテカ, Osaka; shows works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series (see cat. nos. 29, 31)
June 5–30. Gutai Group Exhibition (later documented as Gutai Art Exhibition in Austria), Wulfengasse Heide Hildebrand Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria; shows works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series (see cat. nos. 29, 31)
June 7–11. Nijūshūnen kinen Ashiya-shi ten 二十周年記念芦屋市展 ( Ashiya City Twentieth Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition), Ashiya Shimin Kaikan 芦屋市民会館 (Ashiya Citizens’Hall)
October 1–14 and November 1–14. Nineteenth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展 (Gutai Art Exhibition), TōkyōChūōBijutsukan 東京中央美術館 (Central Museum of Arts, Tokyo) and Gutai Pinacotheca 具体ピナコテカ, Osaka; shows works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series (see cat. nos. 29, 31)
December 1–20. Gutai bijutsu shōhin ten 具体美術小品展 (Gutai Small Works Exhibition: Modern Japanese Painting), Gutai Pinacotheca 具体ピナコテカ, Osaka
December 18–24. Gendai bijutsu Ōsaka hyakunin ten 現代美術大阪100人展 (Osaka Hundred Works Exhibition), GarōAno 画廊あの (Galerie Anneau), Osaka
December 18–30. Gendai mini bijutsu ten 現代ミニ美術展 (Contemporary Mini-Art Exhibition), Imabashi Garō 今橋画廊 (Imabashi Gallery), Osaka
1968
Stars in radio play Harukana koe 遥かな声(A Distant Voice), Tōkai Rajio東海ラジオ (Tōkai Radio)
April 8. Saikederikku shō サイケデリックショー (Psychedelic Show), event held at SAB Hall to mark the first screening of the movie Mondo Mod, directed by Peter Perry Jr.
April 15–20. Sekkusu imēji ten セックスイメージ展 (Sex Image Exhibition), Akao Garōあかお画廊 (Akao Gallery), Osaka
May. Participates in design of Saikederikku Kissa サイケデリック喫茶 (Psychedelic Coffee Room) in Koronbia Kissa コロンビア喫茶 (Columbia Coffee Shop), Tenjinbashi, Osaka
May. Publishes proposal for an open-participation magazine Ningen kakudai no tame no hon 人間拡大のための本 (The Challenge)
July 1–20. Twentieth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展(Gutai Art Exhibition), Gutai Pinacotheca, Osaka; shows works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series (see cat. nos. 29, 31)
August. Works from the Toruso トルソ (Torso) series featured on the Wide Show 11 PM television show
August. Travels to Wakayama for the filming of Mujin rettō無人列島(The Desert Archipelago), directed by Katsu Kanai 金井勝
August. Features in a happening screened on the Wide Show 11 PM television show, with Yūki Mikawa 三川由貴, Tetsuo Miki 三喜徹雄, and others
August. Shichiēshon in samā シチエーション イン サマー (Situation in Summer), also documented as Reakushon in samā レアクション イン サマー(Reaction in Summer), performance with Kazunari Nakata 中田和成, Yūki Mikawa 三川由貴, Tetsuo Miki 三喜徹雄, Akira Yamaguchi 山口晃, and others, SAB Hall
October. Around this time, resigns from Gutai Art Association following disagreements over his involvement in performance events; does not participate in the last Gutai Art Exhibition, held November 1–20
October 27. Kyōno shi matsuri 今日の詩祭 (Poetry Today Festival), Hyōgo Kenmin Kaikan 兵庫県民会館 (Hyogo Citizens’Hall), Kobe
November 27. Poetry recital on Tōkai Rajio 東海ラジオ (Radio Tōkai)
December 16–22. Second Gendai bijutsu Ōsaka hyakunin ten 現代美術大阪100人展 (Osaka Exhibition of 100 Contemporary Artists), Shinanobashi Garō信濃橋画廊 (Shinanobashi Gallery) and GarōAno 画廊あの(Galerie Anneau), Osaka
1969
Publishes poetry anthology Hōjō: Shishū 北条：詩集 (see Bibliography)
March 31–April 5. Hansen to kaihōno tame no purotesuto 69 X ten 反戦と解放のためのプロテスト69X展 (Anti-war and liberation protest 69 X exhibition), Akao Garōあかお画廊(Akao Gallery), Osaka, with associated protests and happenings; shows work and directs in collaboration with the photographer SeiryūInoue 井上青竜, Akira Yamaguchi 山口晃, and others; reviewed in Yomiuri shinbun 読売新聞, April 1 and Mainichi shinbun 毎日新聞, April 1
May. Performance on the Wide Show 11 PM television show to publicize the film Mujin rettō無人列島(The Desert Archipelago), directed by Katsu Kanai 金井勝
June 10. Street happening to publicize the film Mujin rettō 無人列島 (see preceding entry), various locations in Osaka
June 14. Supports independent public showing of the film Mujin rettō 無人列島 (The Desert Archipelago, see preceding entries) at SAB Hall, Osaka, and writes message for the flier
August 9–18. Avangyarudo pātī アヴァンギャルド (Avantgarde Party) fashion collection, Pairuパイル, Osaka
November 19–30. Erosu Iteza kikaku ten エロス射手座企画展 (Eros in Iteza Exhibition), GyararīIteza ギャラリー射手座 (Sagittarius Gallery), Kyoto, with GentarōKomaki 小牧源太郎, Yukitoshi Tashiro 田代幸俊, Masakazu Horiuchi 堀内正和, Sadamasa Motonaga 元永定正, the ceramic artist Kazuo Yagi 八木一夫, and Hideo Yoshihara 吉原英雄
December 15–20. Karikachua ningen pōtorēto カリカチュア·にんげん·ポートレート (Caricature Human Portraits), Puchi Imabashi プチ·イマバシ (Petit Imabashi), Osaka
1970
Year of the Osaka Expo (March 15–September 13)
Around this time, teaching at Amagasaki City Junior High School
Around this time and probably earlier, Director of Kōbe Garō神戸画廊(Kobe Gallery)
January 5–10. Art 7 ten アート·7 展 (Art 7 Exhibition), Shinanobashi Garō信濃橋画廊 (Shinanobashi Gallery), Osaka
January 26–31. Kitani Shigeki 1947–1970 ten 喜谷繁暉1947–1970 展 (Shigeki Kitani 1947–1970 Exhibition), Miyazaki Garōみやざき画廊 (Miyazaki Gallery), Osaka; shows Furui furui tōyōno uta, watakushi no uta古い古い東洋の歌·私の歌 (Old, Old Far Eastern Song, My Song, see cat. no. 3), Sakuhin 作品 (Work, see cat. no. 4), Sakuhin 16 作品 16 (Work 16, see cat. no. 5), and Torso 12 トルソ 12 (Torso 12, see cat. no. 31); reviewed in Mainichi shinbun 毎日新聞, evening edition, February 2, 1970
March 5–10. ’70 Shi to sho jūninin ten ’70詩と書12人展 (Exhibition of Poetry and Calligraphy by 12 Artists), Kōbe Sanchika Taun Mitsubishi Kobe Hōmu Kōnā-nai Gyrararī神戸サンチカタウン三菱ホームコーナー内ギャラリー (Kobe Sanchika Town Mitsubishi Home Corner Gallery)
March 9–14. Ōsaka no zen hanga 大阪の全版画 (All-Osaka Print Exhibition), GarōMiyazaki 画廊みやざき(Miyazaki Gallery), Osaka
March 9–16. Bijutsu × bungaku ’70 ten 美術 × 文学’70 展 (Art × Literature ’70 Exhibition), TōhōGarō東宝画廊 (TōhōGallery), Osaka; held to support the construction of Kōbe Bungaku Gakkai Kaikan 神戸文学学会会館 (Kobe Literary Association Building)
March 29–31. Makes dolls for the Morita Contemporary Dance Performance, Ōsaka Geijutsu Sentā大阪芸術センター (Osaka Arts Center)
April 1–12. Sofuto media ソフト·メディア (Soft Media), Ōsaka Geijutsu Sentā大阪芸術センター(Osaka Arts Center)
April 13–18. Kitani Shigeki Pure Nude ten 喜谷繁暉PURE NUDE展 (Shigeki Kitani Pure Nude Exhibition), GyararīYatsui ギャラリーヤツイ (Gallery Yatsui), Osaka
May 1–9. Warera Nihon dochakumin ten われら日本土着民展 (We Are Japanese Aborigines Exhibition), Kōbe Garō神戸画廊 (Kobe Gallery), with SeiryūInoue 井上青竜, Masatsugu Kashiwao 橿尾正次, Kazuo Shiraga 白髪一雄, Naoharu Horio 堀尾貞治, Makio Yamaguchi 山口牧生, and Ran Yamazaki 山崎ラン
May 11–16. Zen’ei no tsukuru mingei ten 前衛のつくる民芸展 (Exhibition of Folkcrafts by Avant-Garde Artists), Kōbe Garō神戸画廊(Kobe Gallery); 36-person show; reviewed in Asahi shinbun 朝日新聞, Hanshin 阪神 edition, May 10 and Asahi shinbun 朝日新聞, June 21
June 2–11. Zen’ei sakka sakuhin ten: Atarashii mingei no tame ni 前衛作家作品展：新しい民芸のために (Exhibition of Work by Avant-Garde Artists: For a New Folkcraft), GyararīIteza ギャラリー射手座(Sagittarius Gallery), Kyoto; apparently a second showing of the preceding, with a different title
May 18–23. Non-erotikku ten のんエロティック展 (Non-Erotic Exhibition, Kōbe Garō神戸画廊(Kobe Gallery); exhibition of work by Hige Nishimoto ヒゲ·ニシモト, curated by Shigeki Kitani
October 8–11. Gensōno interia 幻想のインテリア (Fantasy Interiors), SanbōHall, Kobe; organized by Kazuo Akane 赤根和生
October 5, 12, 19, 26. Contributes articles to “Zero zahyō”ゼロ座標 (“Zero Coordinates”) column of Kōbe shinbun 神戸新聞
October 26–31. Hanga nijūyonin ten 版画24人展 (Exhibition of Prints by 24 Artists), Masago Garōマサゴ画廊 (Masago Gallery), Osaka
1971
June 20.“Dokuritsu no bunka o”独立の文化 (“Toward an Independent Culture”), article in Asahi shinbun 朝日新聞
1976
Solo exhibition, TōhōGarō東宝画廊 (TōhōGallery), Osaka
November 2–14. Gutai bijutsu no jūhachinen ten 具体美術の18年展 (Eighteen Years of Gutai Art Exhibition), Ōsaka Fumin Gyararī大阪府民ギャラリー (Osaka Citizens’Gallery)
1977
August 22–27. Solo exhibition, TōhōGarō東宝画廊 (TōhōGallery), Osaka
1978
Solo exhibition, GyararīHorie ギャラリーほりえ(Horie Gallery), Kasai
Publishes poetry anthology Miwayama: Shishū三輪山：詩集 (see Bibliography)
1979
December 3–9 and 11–15. Solo exhibition Shigeki Kitani yusai shōhin ten 喜谷繁暉油彩小品展 (Small works in oil by Shigeki Kitani), GyararīHorie ギャラリーほりえ (Horie Gallery), Kasai, and Bon Garō凡画廊 (Bon Gallery), Kakogawa
1980
August 25–31. Solo exhibition, GyararīHorie ギャラリーほりえ(Horie Gallery), Kasai
1981
Around this time, becomes a member of Nihon Gendai Shijin Kai 日本現代詩人会 (Association of Japanese Contemporary Poets)
1982
November 9–14. Solo exhibition, GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya; reviewed in Kōbe shinbun 神戸新聞, November 6
December 13–19. Solo exhibition, GyararīSanīsaido ギャラリー·サニーサイド (Sunnyside Gallery), Kasai, and GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya; reviewed in Kōbe shinbun 神戸新聞, December 8
1983
Publishes poetry anthology Tsuki to haha: Shishū月と母：詩集 (see Bibliography)
January 31–February 5. Solo exhibition Nudus Schedium, GyararīAzuchi ギャラリー安土 (Azuchi Gallery), Osaka
June 21–30. Solo exhibition Ashiya fūkei 芦屋風景 (Views of Ashiya), GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya; reviewed in Asahi famirī朝日ファミリー, July 15; abstract works by Kazuo Shiraga 白髪一雄 are shown at the same time
1984
January 30–February 4. Solo exhibition, ギャラリー安土(Azuchi Gallery), Osaka
March 2–4. Solo exhibition of poems and paintings, GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya
August 24–September 1. Tōban ten 陶板展 (Ceramic Tile Exhibition), ギャラリー安土(Azuchi Gallery), Osaka; 15-person show
October 23–28. Solo exhibition, Ashiya fūkei 芦屋風景 (Views of Ashiya), GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya
1985
January 1–26. Solo exhibition, Hana, ningyō, ijinkan 花·人形·異人館 (Flowers, Dolls, Foreigners’Villas), GyararīAzuchi ギャラリー安土 (Azuchi Gallery), Osaka
May 25–31. Solo exhibition, Ashiya fūkei 芦屋風景 (Views of Ashiya), GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya
August–December. Views of old foreigners’villas published in Dokusha bungei 読者文芸
November 30–December 5. Solo exhibition Ashiya fūkei (Hashi shirīzu) 芦屋風景(橋シリーズ) (Views of Ashiya: Bridge Series), GyararīAdesso ギャラリー·アデッソ(Space Adesso), Ashiya
1986
Declared bankrupt
1986–1993
Works on landscape paintings of Paris; solo exhibitions in Hōjō, Kakogawa, Kobe, Matsuyama, Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo, and other cities
Starts work on the いざなみ Izanami mask series, named after the “Great Mother Goddess of Japan”
1993
Ashiya Shiritsu Bijutsu Hakubutsukan 芦屋市立美術博物館(Ashiya City Museum of Art and History) purchases a Toruso トルソ (Torso) work shown at the Sixteenth Gutai bijutsu ten 具体美術展(Gutai Art Exhibition) in 1965, and receives gifts of three works by Kitani from Tsujimoto Isamu 辻本勇, owner of GyararīAzuchi ギャラリー安土(Azuchi Gallery), and one work by Kitani from Miyazaki Garōみやざき画廊(Miyazaki Gallery)
1995
Publishes poetry anthology Kekkon: Shishū 結婚：詩集 (see Bibliography)
2002
Exhibition of poems and paintings, GyararīMoe ギャラリー萌 (Moe Gallery), Osaka
2004
Runs the KurokkīKai クロッキー会 (Croquis Association) painting school in Osaka
December. Publishes poetry anthology Kitani Shigeki shishū 喜谷繁暉詩集 (see Bibliography)
2009
February. Death of Shigeki Kitani
May 24–June 6. Ko-Kitani Shigeki-san no isaku ten 故喜谷繁暉さんの遺作展 (Exhibition of Works by the Late Mr. Shigeki Kitani). Uōru Gyrararīウオールギャラリー (Wall Gallery), Kasai
2012
July 4–September 10. “Gutai": Nippon no zen'ei jūhachinen no kiseki「具体」：ニッポンの前衛18年の軌跡(Gutai: The Spirit of an Era). Kokuritsu Shin Bijutsukan 国立新美術館(The National At Center), Tokyo; Torso 12 トルソ12 (Torso 12) is shown (see cat. no. 31)
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Ashiya City Museum of Art and History
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art