Takashi Fukushima

Takashi Fukushima (São Paulo, SP, 1950)

Takashi Fukushima is a painter, printmaker, illustrator, and set designer. Son of painter Tikashi Fukushima (1920–2001), he studied with Luiz Paulo Baravelli in 1970 and, in the same year, entered the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the University of São Paulo (FAU/USP). Parallel to his university studies, he participated in the São Paulo International Biennials in 1973 and 1975, receiving an acquisition prize at the latter. He participated in several editions of the São Paulo Salon of Visual Arts, winning awards in 1976 and 1987. Also in 1987, he was responsible for the visual design and sets for the play Pássaro do Poente, with the Ponkã Group, receiving the Apetesp, Mambembe, Molière, and Revelation awards from the São Paulo Association of Art Critics (APCA) the following year.

In 1990, he studied at the National University of Arts and Music in Tokyo, Japan, with a scholarship from the Japan Foundation. That same year, he received the Excellence Award at the 1st Brazilian Design Biennial in Curitiba. In 1991, he received an honorable mention at the 6th Museu da Casa Brasileira Award in São Paulo. In 2001, he completed his master's degree in urban environmental structures at FAU/USP, under the supervision of Issao Minami, and began his doctorate that same year. Since 1992, he has taught drawing in the Architecture and Urban Planning course at the Faculty of Fine Arts in São Paulo.

Critical Commentary

Early in his career, Takashi Fukushima painted landscapes using calligraphic graphics and brushstrokes that occupied the lower part of the canvas, leaving much of the surface blank. According to Eastern tradition, this blank space is associated not only with silence but also with spiritualization. Gradually, the entire white surface of the canvas becomes occupied by the landscape, produced in sinuous lines that reveal mountains and vegetation. In contrast to the graphics, in some areas, brushstrokes made with fluid paints predominate, approaching abstraction.

The artist uses a chromatic range that evokes the softness of watercolor in large-scale works. In the mid-1980s, he also exhibited urban landscapes, which present a great formal simplification, with a darker chromatic range, in which colors mixed with gray predominate. The painter also dedicated himself to woodcuts, in which he revisited recurring themes in his paintings.

In an exhibition held in 1999, Takashi Fukushima used mixed media on wood, applying paints in a way that allowed the texture and grain of the medium to shine through, in works closer to abstraction.

Reviews

"Takashi has distinguished himself with a highly refined sensitivity in his approach to landscape. In keeping with Eastern tradition and parameters, the landscape emerges lightly from the white of the canvas (and white is both canvas and space) as a way of sensitizing the spirit. Sometimes, however, and without losing this lightness, the landscape acquires an anthropomorphic character: it is a woman, it is a body."
Frederico Morais
15 YOUNG artists from Brazil. São Paulo: MAB; Buenos Aires: Museo de Arte Moderno, 1978.

Solo Exhibitions

1971 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at Opus Art Gallery
1976 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Solo exhibition at Eucatexpo Gallery
1977 - Cuiabá, MT - Solo exhibition at the Museum of Popular Art and Culture
1977 - Montreal, Canada - Solo exhibition at Galeria Libre
1977 - Toronto, Canada - Solo exhibition at Inform All Art Gallery
1978 - Brasília, DF - Solo exhibition at Oscar Seraphico Art Gallery
1979 - Montreal, Canada - Solo exhibition at Galeria Libre
1980 - Porto Alegre, RS - Solo exhibition at Galeria Salamandra
1981 - Montreal, Canada - Solo exhibition at Galeria Libre
1981 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at Paulo Prado Art Gallery Art
1982 - São Carlos SP - Solo show, at Itaugaleria
1982 - São Paulo SP - Solo show, at Pitanga do Amparo Architecture and Art
1982 - São Paulo SP - Shizen: Imitating Nature, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1983 - São Paulo SP - Solo show, at Paulo Prado Art Gallery
1984 - São Paulo SP - Solo show, at Bonfiglioli Gallery
1984 - São Paulo SP - Takashi Fukushima: drawings and watercolor lithographs, at Pitanga do Amparo Architecture and Art
1985 - Salvador BA - Urban Nature, at Paulo Darzé Art Gallery
1985 - São Paulo SP - City and Country, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1986 - Recife PE - Synthetic Garden I and II, at Artespaço Art Gallery
1986 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Heavens and Earths, in Reality Art Gallery
1986 - São Paulo SP - Synthetic Garden I and II, at Tôki Arte Gallery
1988 - São Paulo SP - From Natures, at Paulo Figueiredo Art Gallery
1989 - Paris (France) - Takashi Fukushima: recent works, at the Latin American Space
1991 - São Paulo SP - Takashi Fukushima: woodcuts, at the Raquel Arnaud Art Cabinet
1992 - Recife PE - Solo show, at Artespaço Art Gallery
1992 - São Paulo SP - Solo show, at the Montesanti Roesler Gallery
1993 - São José dos Campos SP - Solo show, at the Cassiano Ricardo Cultural Foundation
1995 - São Paulo SP - Solo show, at the Nara Roesler Gallery
1998 - São Paulo SP - Takashi Fukushima: watercolors, at the American Chamber of Commerce
1999 - São Paulo SP - Floating Times, at the State Art Gallery
2001 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at the State Art Gallery
2002 - São Paulo SP - Signs of the Times, at the Valu Oria Art Gallery

Group Exhibitions

1969 - São Paulo SP - 13th Salon of Plastic Arts of the Seibi Group, at the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture
1970 - São Paulo SP - 4th Young Contemporary Art, at MAC/USP
1972 - Belo Horizonte MG - National Salon of Contemporary Art of Belo Horizonte, at MAP
1972 - Campinas SP - 8th Salon of Contemporary Art of Campinas, at MACC - special mention
1972 - Curitiba PR - 29th Paraná Art Salon, at Teatro Guaíra
1972 - São Paulo SP - Brazil Plastic Prize 72, at Fundação Bienal - revelation award
1972 - São Paulo SP - Sesquicentennial of Independence Art Exhibition & Brazil Plastic 72, at Fundação Bienal
1973 - São Paulo SP - 12th São Paulo International Biennial, at Fundação Bienal
1974 - Belo Horizonte MG - 4th National Salon, at MAP - awarded
1974 - Belo Horizonte MG - 6th National Salon of Contemporary Art of Belo Horizonte, at MAP
1974 - Campinas SP - 9th Salon of Contemporary Art of Campinas, at MACC
1974 - Santo André SP - 7th Salon of Contemporary Art of Santo André, at Paço Municipal
1974 - São Paulo SP - 3rd Bunkyo Salon, at the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture - acquisition award
1974 - São Paulo SP - National Biennial 74, at Fundação Bienal
1975 - São Paulo SP - 13th São Paulo International Biennial, at Fundação Bienal - acquisition award
1976 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Arte Agora I, at MAM/RJ
1976 - São Paulo SP - 5th Bunkyo Salon, at the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture
1976 - São Paulo SP - 7th São Paulo Salon of Contemporary Art, at Paço das Artes
1976 - São Paulo SP - 8th Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP - CEF Prize
1978 - Buenos Aires (Argentina) - 15 Young Brazilian Artists, at Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires
1978 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 1st National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MNBA - travel award
1978 - São Paulo SP - 3 Generations of Nipo-Brazilian Artists, at Arte Global Gallery
1978 - São Paulo SP - 7th Bunkyo Salon, at the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture - travel award
1978 - São Paulo SP - 15 Young Brazilian Artists, at MAB/Faap
1979 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 2nd National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MAM/RJ
1979 - São Paulo SP - 11th Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1979 - São Paulo SP - 8th Bunkyo Salon, at the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture - grand prize
1979 - São Paulo SP - Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
1980 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 3rd National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MNBA
1980 - São Paulo SP - 2nd Brazilian MOA Art Salon, at MAM/SP - acquisition award
1980 - São Paulo SP - 9th Bunkyo Salon
1980 - São Paulo SP - Landscape Painters, at André Art Gallery
1981 - Osaka (Japan) - Latin American Contemporary Art Exhibition Brazil/Japan, at Osaka National Museum of Art
1981 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 4th National Salon of Plastic Arts
1981 - São Paulo SP - 2nd São Paulo Salon of Plastic and Visual Arts, at Paço das Artes
1982 - Belo Horizonte MG - National Art Salon, at MAP
1982 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 5th National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MAM/RJ
1982 - São Paulo SP - 1st São Paulo Salon of Contemporary Art, at Fundação Bienal
1983 - Atami (Japan) - 6th MOA Art Expo Brazil-Japan
1983 - Kyoto (Japan) - 6th MOA Art Expo Brazil-Japan
1983 - Tokyo (Japan) - 6th MOA Art Expo Brazil-Japan
1983 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 6th National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MAM/RJ
1983 - São Paulo SP - 14th Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1983 - São Paulo SP - Expo 75 Years of Immigration, at Pinacoteca do Estado
1983 - São Paulo SP - Nipo-Brazilians: Master and Students in 50 Years, at Pinacoteca do Estado
1983 - São Paulo SP - Palmeira, at Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1983 - São Paulo SP - Art and Generation, at Sesc Carmo Gallery
1984 - Ourinhos SP - Tribute to Printmaking in Brazil, at Itaugaleria
1984 - São Paulo SP - 2nd São Paulo Salon of Contemporary Art, at Fundação Bienal
1984 - São Paulo SP - The Urban and Industrial Dimensions in Paulista Figurative Painting, at Traço Art Gallery
1984 - São Paulo SP - Casa Vogue Walls, at MASP
1984 - São Paulo SP - 2nd São Paulo Salon of Contemporary Art, at MIS/SP
1985 - Atami (Japan) - 7th Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, at Mokiti Okada Foundation
1985 - Kyoto (Japan) - 7th Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
1985 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 7th Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, at Brazil-Japan Foundation
1985 - São Paulo SP - Highlights of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1985 - São Paulo SP - 7th Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, at Brazil-Japan Foundation
1985 - Tokyo (Japan) - Contemporary Brazilian Printmaking, at the Brazilian Embassy
1985 - Tokyo (Japan) - 7th Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
1986 - São Paulo SP - 17th Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1987 - Ottawa (Canada) - Brazilian Printmaking, at Front Gallery
1987 - São Paulo SP - 13 Western Carpets, at Paulo Figueiredo Art Gallery
1987 - São Paulo SP - 18th Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art - acquisition award
1988 - Beijing (China) - Brazil-China Exhibition, at China Fine Arts Gallery
1988 - Beijing (China) - Contemporary Brazilian Art, at National Museum of Beijing
1988 - São Paulo SP - 15 Years of Brazil-Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, at Mokiti Okada Foundation
1988 - São Paulo SP - FASM National Watercolor Salon, at Santa Marcelina College, Perdizes Campus
1989 - London (England) - Contemporary Brazilian Lithographs, at King’s College
1989 - São Paulo SP - 20th Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1989 - São Paulo SP - Journey to Paper at the Biennials, at MAM/SP - Canson Prize
1989 - São Paulo SP - Brazilian Painting 20th Century: works from Banco Itaú Collection, at Itaugaleria
1989 - São Paulo SP - Journey to Paper at the Brazilian Biennials, at MAM/SP
1990 - Curitiba PR - 1st Brazilian Design Biennial - excellence award
1990 - São Paulo SP - 21st Panorama of Contemporary Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1991 - Osaka (Japan) - 2nd Osaka International Print Triennial
1991 - São Paulo SP - Artist-Architects, at MASP
1992 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Eco Art, at MAM/RJ
1992 - Santo André SP - Lithography: Methods and Concepts, at Paço Municipal
1993 - João Pessoa PB - Woodcut: from Cordel to Gallery, at Fundação Espaço Cultural da Paraíba
1993 - Santos SP - 4th Santos National Biennial, at Centro Cultural Patrícia Galvão
1993 - São Paulo SP - 1st São Paulo Watercolor Salon, at FASM
1993 - São Paulo SP - Luso-Nipo-Brazilian Exhibition, at MAB/Faap
1994 - Chicago (USA) - Watercolours, at Northern Illinois University, Gallery 2000
1994 - Recife PE - Paulista Art, at Artespaço Art Gallery
1994 - São Paulo SP - Woodcut: from Cordel to Gallery, at Metro
1995 - Brasília DF - Seven Samurais of Brazilian Art, at LBV
1995 - Niigata (Japan) - Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Painters Exhibition, at Niigata Museum
1995 - São Paulo SP - Contemporary Japanese and Nipo-Brazilian Artists, at MAC/USP
1995 - São Paulo SP - Brazil-Japan Art, at Mokiti Okada Foundation
1995 - São Paulo SP - Garner Tullis Workshop, at MAM/SP
1995 - Tokushima (Japan) - Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Painters Exhibition, at Tokushima Cultural Center
1996 - Gifu (Japan) - Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Painters Exhibition, at Museum of Fine Art Gifu
1996 - São Paulo SP - Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Painters Exhibition, at MASP
1996 - Tokyo (Japan) - Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Painters Exhibition, at Azabu Art Museum
1997 - Jacareí SP - Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Painters Exhibition, at Santa Helena Art Workshop
1998 - Belo Horizonte MG - Japan-Brazil International Itinerant Exhibition, at Clóvis Salgado Foundation, Palácio das Artes
1998 - Ipatinga MG - Japan-Brazil International Itinerant Exhibition, at São Francisco Xavier Foundation, Usiminas Cultural Center
1999 - Brasília DF - Japan-Brazil International Itinerant Exhibition, at Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1999 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Rio Gravura Exhibition. São Paulo: Printmaking Today, at Palácio Gustavo Capanema
1999 - São Paulo SP - Japan-Brazil International Itinerant Exhibition, at MASP
2000 - São Paulo SP - Almeida Júnior: a Revisited Artist, at Pinacoteca do Estado
2001 - São Paulo SP - Nipo-Brazilian Art: Moments, at Euroart Castelli Gallery
2001 - São Paulo SP - 50 Years Biennial: a Tribute to Ciccillo Matarazzo, at Fundação Bienal
2001 - São Paulo SP - Museum of Brazilian Art: 40 Years, at MAB
2002 - São Paulo SP - 8 Contemporary Brazilian Artists, at Casa das Rosas
2003 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brazilianart Project, at Almacén Art Gallery
2003 - São Paulo SP - Generations: Contemporary Nipo-Brazilian Art, at Unicid Art Space
2005 - São Paulo SP - Small Great Works, at Cultural Blue Life