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Chihiro
Shimotani

Chihiro Shimotani
Life and work

下谷 千尋

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.

Awards & Recognition

Throughout his distinguished career, Shimotani has received numerous prestigious awards:

1995

1st prize: Design Project for the forecourt of the Schörghuber Group headquarters, Munich

1976

Berlin Artists Program of the DAAD, Berlin

1973

São Paulo Biennale (Grand Prize)

1972

Japan Art Festival, Central Museum, Tokyo (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Prize)

1972

Tokyo International Print Biennale, Tokyo (Grand Prize)

Public Works & Installations

Shimotani's works can be found in various public spaces and institutions:

2011

Osaka Stock Exchange

2004

Two light sculptures, EPA Munich

2002

Wall relief The World Essity, Mannheim

1995

Wall relief for the new building of the Heilbronner Stimme publishing house, Heilbronn

1992

Design of the courtyard of the European Patent Office, Munich

1980

Pax Christi Church, Krefeld

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

find out more

Explore more about Chihiro's work through these resources:

Chihiro Shimotani - Artwork 1
Chihiro Shimotani - Artwork 2
Chihiro Shimotani - Artwork 3
Chihiro Shimotani - Artwork 4
Chihiro Shimotani - Artwork 5