„My belief is that contemporary photography should be based on
conceptual ideas and should be directed to creation. In order to pursue
this direction, needless to say, enthusiasm and strong will are
required. If someone should think that an artistic expression is valid
in taking pictures of one’s life such as girlfriends and families, it
would be too idle an attitude. To bring out 'the power of photography'
in any era or situation, a strong passion (based on the photographer’s
mindset to structure concept) is essential."
– Risaku Suzuki
Born in 1963 in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, Risaku Suzuki currently lives and works in Tokyo.
The artist is known for his dedicated productions that capture scenes in Kumano, Wakayama Prefecture; one of Japan’s most holy places and also Suzuki’s hometown. One of Japan’s most prominent photographers, Suzuki presents quintessential Japanese subjects - such as snowfall and cherry blossoms - in a manner that is at once timeless and refreshingly new.
Suzuki has held exhibitions worldwide and has received many prizes, including the Kimura Ihei Award, the most renowned award in the field of photography in Japan.
Education
1985
Tokyo College of Photography, Kanagawa, Japan
1987
College of Photography Research Department, Tokyo, Japan
2006
Associate professor, Department of Inter Media Art, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Japan
Selected solo exhibitions
2023
"Light of Spring" Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Schweiz
2022
"Looking for the waterfall" Shingu City Culture Center, Wakayama, Japan
"Winter to Spring" Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2021
"SAKURA" Danziger Gallery L.A. / Danziger at Fetterman, Santa Monica, CA, USA
"Risaku Suzuki" Kumanokodo Nakahechi Museum of Art, Japan
2020
„La plaque sensible" MARÜTE GALLERY, Kagawa, Japan
„Between the Sea and the Mountain – Kumano / Between the Eye and the Mind“ Nikon Plaza Shinjuku THE GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan
2018
„La Plaque Sensible“ Canon Gallery S, Tokyo, Japan
„Water Mirror“ Christophe Guye Galerie, Zürich, Schweiz
2016
„Mirror Portrait“ Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„Beyond the Realm of Time“ &co119, Paris, France
„Between the Sea and the Mountain“ Taka Ishii Gallery Photography Paris, Paris, France
„Stream of consciousness“ Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
„Water Mirror“ Kumanokodo Nakahechi Museum of Art, Wakayama, Japan
„Stream of consciousness“ Tanabe City Museum of Art, Wakayama, Japan
„SAKURA“ Kumano Shimbun Gallery, Shingu, Wakayama, Japan
2015
„Water Mirror“ Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, Japan
„Stream of consciousness“ Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„Stream of consciousness“ Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, Kagawa / Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2014
„One day, in the wood“ Odate Kitaakita Arts Festival 2014, Akita, Japan
2013
„Peninsula“ Ku Ren Boh Chohouin Buddhist Temple Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„Cézanne à l’Atelier“ Koyonagi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2011
„The Words Burned“ Moriokashoten, Tokyo, Japan
„Yuki-Sakura“ Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
2010
„Sakura“ Kimpusen-ji temple, Yoshino, Nara, Japan
2009
„White“ Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, Japan
2008
„Contact“ d-labo, Tokyo, Japan
2007
„Risaku Suzuki“ Yoshii Gallery, New York, United States
„Kumano, Yuki, Sakura“ Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
2006
„Suzuki Risaku: kumano, yuki, sakura“ Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
„Sakura“ Yoshii Gallery, New York, United States
2005
„Between the Sea and the Mountain – Kumano“ Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, Japan
2004
„Beyond the Realm of Time“ Nishimura Commemoration House, Nishimura Kinen Kan, Japan
2003
„Sakura“ Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, Japan
2002
„Looking at the Wind, Touching the Mountain“ Kura Kura Art Project, Ishikawa, Japan
2001
„Looking at the Wind, Touching the Mountain“ Photo Gallery International, Tokyo, Japan
„M.Sugawara“ epSite, Tokyo, Japan
2000
„Piles of Time“ Minolta Photo Space, Shinjuku, Osaka, Fukukoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Senda, Japan
„Saskia“ P.G.I. Shibaura, Tokyo, Japan
1997
„Izanami“ P.G.I Shibaura, Tokyo, Japan
1996
„15:10 Osorezan“ Ginza Nikon Salon, Tokyo, Japan
1994
„Torii“ Poraloid Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1993
„Double Life“ Photo Gallery International, Tokyo, Japan
1992
„White Sands“ Photo Gallery International, Tokyo, Japan
1991
„Sun City“ Hirakwachobashi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1990
„True Fiction“ Kichijoji Parco Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Selected group exhibitions
2024
MIA Fair Milano, Christophe Guye Galerie, Milan, Italy
2023
"A Benefit Art Extravaganza" Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque NM, USA
"Winter Interlude" Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
2022
"JAM SESSION THE ISHIBASHI FOUNDATION COLLECTION×SHIBATA TOSHIO×SUZUKI RISAKU Photography and Painting – From Cézanne SHIBATA TOSHIO & SUZUKI RISAKU" Artizon Museum, Tokyo, Japan
"Genichiro Inokuma and Risaku Suzuki" The Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, Kagawa, Japan
2021
"My Flower" Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2020
Abstractions, Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
2018
„Asama International Photo Festival“ Miyota-machi, Nagano, Japan
„A Gaze Into Archictecture - Phase of Contemporaty Photography and Architecture“ Archi-Depot Museum, Tokyo, Japan
„Megane to tabisuru bijutsuten (Travel with Glasses)“, Aomori Museum of Art, Iwami Art Museum and Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan
„Weather Report_From Landscape via Earthworks to Neo-Cosmographia“ Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Japan
„Tsuka: An Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Photography“ Center for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Australia
„Monet’s Legacy“ Nagoya City Art Museum and Yokohama Museum of Art, Japan
„MOMAT Collection“ The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
2017
Risaku SUZUKI/Naoki ISHIKAWA Photo Exhibition in Shiretoko „TOP END“, Shari-cho Community Center Yume Hall Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Japan
„25th Anniversary Exhibition MIMOCA’s Collection: Artworks of All Kinds!“ Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, Marugame-shi, Kagawa, Japan
„Seven Japanese Rooms – Fotografia contemporanea dal Giappone“ Fondazione Crispezia, La Spezia, Italy
2016
„Japanese Photography from Postwar to Now“ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, United States
„Let it Snow“ Richrad Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, United States
„Revalue Nippon Project: Hidetoshi Nakata’s Favorite Japanese KOGEI“ Panasonic Shiodome Museum, Tokyo, Japan
„Genius loci – The Higashikawa Awards“, Towada Art Center, Aomori, Japan
2015
„23°N / 35°N“ a collaborative exhibition by Faculty of Fine Arts / Graduate School of Fine Arts of Tokyo University of the Arts and Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Chinretsukan Gallery,The University Art Museum, Painting Building Art Space-Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
„The 15th Photo City Sagamihara“ Sagamihara Civic Art Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan
„Regards Croisés Japon-Provence／Phot’ Aix 2015“ Galerie Zola de la Cité du livre, Aix en Provence, France
„The Photograph: What You See & What You Don’t #2“ Chinretsukan Gallery, The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
„Fontaine Obscure“ PHOT'AIX, Festival de Photographie – Regards Croisés, Aix–en–Provence, France
2014
„Photo-Secession Kyoto 'NIPPON'” Galerie Aube, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Kyoto, Japan
„Rudolf Steiner Das Reich der Angeloi“ WATARI-UM, Tokyo, Japan
„Printemps de Haute Corrèze“ Meymac Art Center, Meymac, France
2013
„Finding divinity from a single tree or blade of grass“ Iwami Art Museum, Shimane, Japan
„Thermodynamics of the Sun“ Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Tochigi, Japan
„IMA, Dior 2013 SS Collection“ Dior Omotesando boutique, Tokyo, Japan
2012
„The Angel of History: I Love Art 12 Photography“ WATARI-UM, Tokyo, Japan
„Photo-Secession Nagoya 'Photography plus Something' “ Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan
„Summer Show“ Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, Japan
„I love Art 12 Photography“ NADiff Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„Paris Photo“ Paris, Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
2011
„Yokohama Preview/BankARTLifeIIIShin Minatomura“ Shinko Pier, Kanagawa, Japan
2010
„Inaugural Exhibition“ Christophe Guye Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
„Photo-Secession Tokyo“ NADiff Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„Summer Loves“ Huis Marseille stichting voor fotografie, Amsterdam, Netherlands
„Galatin Silver Session“ Axis Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„School Road vol.1“ Happa, Tokyo / Ims, Fukuoka / Satellite, Okayama, Japan
2009
„Recently“ Gallery Naruyama, Tokyo, Japan
„Love Love Show“ Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori, Japan
2008
„Asian Dub Photography“ Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena, Modena, Italy
„Heavy Light: Recent Photography and Video from Japan“ ICP - International Center of Photography, New York, United States
„Lu Lu Lu Landscape: How I see the world around me“ Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka, Japan
„Heavy Light, Recent Photography and Video from Japan“ International Center of Photography, New York, United States
„Remembrances of Places Past“ Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2007
„The Photograph: What You See & What You Don't“ Tokyo University of the Arts - Inter Media Art, Tokyo, Japan
„Gazing at the Contemporary World: Japanese Photography from the 1970s to the Present“ Polish Artistic Photographer's Association; worldwide traveling exhibition, Warsaw, Poland
2006
„Art and Object: Affinity of the Jomon and the Contemporary“ Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori, Japan
„Noda Hiroji + Risaku Suzuki Exhibition“ The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan
2005
„Artists' Gardens Botanical Recollections“ Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
„Come Ciliegi in Flore“ Museo del Risorgimento Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome, Italy
2004
„Gallery Naruyama Collection“ Gallery Naruyama, Tokyo, Japan
„At W vol.1 - Beyond the Realm of Time“ The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan
2003
„Positionen japanischer Fotografie“ Camera Austria, Graz, Austria
„Keep in Touch“ Camera Austria-Kunsthaus, Graz, Austria
„The History of Japanese Photography 1854-2000“ The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, United States
„Photography Today 2- (sáit) site/sight“ The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
2002
„Serendipity: Multimedia Artists from Japan and Korea“ The Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne, Germany
„Photography Today 2 - [s(a)it] site / sight“ The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
„On Landscape, Contemporary Japanese Photography“ Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo, Japan
2001
„Art-ing Tokyo 2001: Space, Time, and Body Lived“ Saison Art Program Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
„Docomomo 20 in Kansai“ Ashiya City Museum of Art and History, Hyogo, Japan
2000
„The 1st Korea Japan Photo-Biennale“ Japan Photo-Biennale, Seoul, South Korea
„Serendipity; Photography, video, experimental film and multimedia installation from Asia“
The Japan Foundation Forum, Tokyo, Japan
„Matrix of Photography“ Kawasaki City Museum, Kanagawa, Japan
Awards
2000
The Ihei Kimura Award
2006
The Higashikawa Prize, The Domestic Photographer Prize
The Wakayama Prefecture Culture Award
2008
The Photographic Society of Japan Award, Annual Award
2015
The 15th Photo City Sagamihara, Professional Division Grand Prize
Collection
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
Aomori Museum of Art
Kawasaki City Museum
Japan Foundation
Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts
Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama
Tanabe City Museum of Art
Princeton University Art Museum, USA
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA
International Center of Photography, USA
Fondazione Casa di Risparimo di Modena, Italy
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, USA
