Chihiro
Shimotani

Chihiro Shimotani, born in 1934 in Sakurai, Japan, is a renowned artist known for his contributions to conceptual art, concrete art, drawing, sculpture, and art with architecture. He gained international recognition when he participated in the 1973 São Paulo Biennale, where he was awarded the Grand Prize.

Shimotani received a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and spent 1975 to 1977 in Berlin. In 1977, he participated in documenta 6 in Kassel. He later served as a visiting professor at the Munich Art Academy in 1988/89 and taught at the Summer Academies of Salzburg and Neuburg on the Danube.

Since his debut exhibition in 1966, Shimotani has showcased his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide. His art can be found in collections and museums globally, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum in Tokyo, as well as the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart and the Lenbachhaus in Munich.

The artist has also left his mark on public spaces through various art projects. Notable examples include installations at the Pax Christi Church in Krefeld (1980), the European Patent Office in Munich (1992 and 2004), and the Osaka Securities Exchange (2011).

Shimotani's artistic materials often derive from nature, encompassing stones, wood, metal, paper, gold, earth, wax, plants, snow, ice, and water. He frequently incorporates words, carving, milling, or embossing them into his pieces. Themes of language, writing, time, and impermanence pervade his artistic endeavors.

In 2008, Shimotani created "Vocalize," inspired by a poem by Arthur Rimbaud, associating vowels with colors and characteristics. This work features Rimbaud's poetic formulations carved into colored metal plates, transforming them into visual-textual panels. Shimotani draws inspiration from the works of Mishima Yukio and the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, turning their literary expressions into visual works of art.

These public works demonstrate Shimotani's mastery of integrating art with architecture and public spaces, often incorporating natural materials and text in innovative ways.