Kazuhiko Satani and Satani Gallery

Satani Gallery: in Ginza 1982-2000

1982: Age 54

November: Holds Masaaki Yamada: A Commemorative Exhibition for the Gallery’s Relocation.

The gallery moves to Ginza 4-chome. The new space, formerly a bank vault, has exceptionally high ceilings for Ginza. News of the move inspires Yamada to try a new challenge of making large-scale works, and relocating proves to be an epochal event for the gallery, enabling Satani to hold an exhibition showcasing new artists in the space the following year. This attracts attention in the art world and leads Satani to continue the exhibition.

Masaaki Yamada: A Commemorative Exhibition for the Gallery’s Relocation. Photo by Yoshitaka Uchida

Masaaki Yamada: A Commemorative Exhibition for the Gallery’s Relocation. Photo by Yoshitaka Uchida

1984: Age 56

April: Holds CHRISTO: The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Project for Paris

Six Christo exhibitions were presented at Satani Gallery. Beginning with the second one, Satani Gallery began to function like a primary gallery for Christo and Jean-Claude, who created the exhibitions in a dialogue with Satani. This relationship had its roots in Christo’s visit to the gallery to see his own solo show while he was staying in Tokyo in the spring of 1982. Masahiko Yanagi was a Christo fan who met Satani at the same exhibition while he was a university student. Not long after, Yanagi went to New York, won Christo and Jean-Claude’s trust, and became a key member of their team. After the Pont Neuf exhibition, the gallery made catalogues and posters for each subsequent exhibition, which dealt with works such as Wrapped Reichstag, The Umbrellas, and Christo’s early objects.

(from left to right) Teiko Satani, Michiko Okuda, Jeanne-Claude, Machi Satani (Kuroda), Kazuhiko, Christo

(from left to right) Teiko Satani, Michiko Okuda, Jeanne-Claude, Machi Satani (Kuroda), Kazuhiko, Christo

1985: Age 57

July: Holds the 5th Homage to Shuzo Takiguchi Exhibition.

The show focuses on Takiguchi’s visual artworks and includes 166 works presented in cooperation with 60 people, such as Genpei Akasegawa, Tatsumi Hijikata, Arata Isozaki, Kunio Iwaya, Juro Kara, Makoto Ooka, Toru Takemitsu, Shuntaro Tanikawa, and Yoshiaki Tono.

Genpei Akasegawa at the exhibition. Photo by Atsuhiko Shima

Genpei Akasegawa at the exhibition.
Photo by Atsuhiko Shima

1986: Age 58

November: Sells a Pablo Picasso portrait of Dora Maar to Tokushima Prefecture (which is in the process of creating a museum).

Kazuhiko sitting next to Picasso's painting in ogikubo

Kazuhiko sitting next to Picasso's painting in ogikubo

1988: Age 60

May: Satani’s book Garo no Shigoto (The Work of a Gallery) is published by Bijutsu Shuppan.

May: Holds Max Ernst Works 1910-46.

Poster of the Ernst show.

Poster of the Ernst show.

1990: Age 62

January-March: Holds Paul Klee Works 1903-40.

Along with Shuzo Takiguchi, Satani considered Klee to be one of the most important artists. In this exhibition he showed 28 works by Klee including oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints that he had collected over a number of years, and made a catalogue, poster, postcards, and a calendar for the event. Satani put all of his energies into the exhibition, which attracted an endless stream of visitors and led all three printings of the catalogue (a total of 3,500 copies) to sell out.

Calendar published at the occation of the Klee exhibition
Calendar published at the occation of the Klee exhibition

Calendar published at the occation of the Klee exhibition

1991: Age 63

July: Holds the 11th Homage to Shuzo Takiguchi Exhibition: Jikken Kobo and Shuzo Takiguchi.

For this 11th exhibition in the series, a regular event at the gallery, Satani received the full cooperation of Katsuhiro Yamaguchi in an effort to present the first comprehensive view of Jikken Kobo’s activities. The catalogue produced for the show remains a major reference work on the group.

Photo by Kiyoji Otuji
Photo by Sadamu Saito

Photo by Kiyoji Otsuji

Photo by Sadamu Saito

One group photograph, showing the members of Jikken Kobo, dates from the period, while the other was taken at the gallery opening. In the latter, the artists invited Satani to stand in the same place Takiguchi had stood in the earlier picture.

1994: Age 66

October-November: Holds Alberto Giacometti and Isaku Yanaihara.

The exhibition presented works from the Isaku Yanaihara Collection with the cooperation of Eiji Usami, who was a close friend of Yanaihara’s and was also friendly with Giacometti.

1996: Age 68

March: Satani’s book Art Management is published by Heibonsha.

2000: Age 72

February: Regrettably, Kazuhiko closes the gallery in Ginza after the Satani Gallery According to 22 Artists exhibition.

Kazuhiko greeting attendees on the last day in Ginza. Photo by Kazumi Sugita

Kazuhiko greeting attendees on the last day in Ginza.
Photo by Kazumi Sugita