Hiraku Suzuki (born 1978 Miyagi, Japan) currently lives and works in Tokyo, Japan, and obtained an M.F.A. at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts in 2008.
Hiraku Suzuki considers “drawing” as something between pictures and language, and his artistic practice explores the new potential that this definition implies which encompasses two-dimensional works, sculpture, installations, murals, video, and performance. Utilizing light-reflective mediums often in the artworks, he develops the theory of deconstructing the traces of signs that are distributed in our everyday world and rearranging them through a physical implementation to generate new circuitry in space and time. Inspired by diverse spheres that range from calligraphy to art history, experimental music notation to anthropology, the artist describes his method as “alternative archaeology”. Traversing boundaries between the past and the future, the light and the shade, or the internal and the external, Suzuki continues to expand and excavate the field of drawing.
In 2011, Hiraku Suzuki completed a residency at Chelsea College of Art, London, and lived and worked in the US in 2011–12 with a grant from the Asian Cultural Council, and in Germany in 2012–13 with a grant from the Pola Art Foundation. Solo exhibitions include “Excavation Today” at The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma (2023), and he has shown in group exhibitions at a long list of prestigious museums throughout Japan and internationally including Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2019-2020); Yinchuan Museum of Contemporary Art, China (2016); Wroclaw Architectural Museum, Poland (2015); Kunstraum Düsseldorf, Germany (2015); Maison de la culture du Japon a Paris, France (2015); 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan (2012) and Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2010).
Suzuki has been organizing a platform “Drawing Tube” since 2016. He frequently collaborates with artists from other fields such as musicians and poets, and has carried out many large-scale public projects. Major publications include “SILVER MARKER – Drawing as Excavating” (HeHe, 2020) and “Drawing – Point, Line and Plane to Tube” (Sayusha, 2023). Since 2021 he is an associate professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Global Art Practice.
2008 | M.F.A., Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Intermedia Art |
2001 | B.F.A., Musashino Art University, Department of Imaging Arts and Sciences |
2023 | Japanese Government Oversea Research Program Grant, Agency for Cultural Affairs, residency at DRAWinternational, Caylus, France |
2017 | FID PRIZE 2017 International Drawing Contest Grand Prize |
2012 | Pola Art Foundation fellowship, Berlin, Germany |
2011 | Asian Cultural Council (ACC) fellowship, residency at Location One, New York, US, |
2011 | Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture fellowship, residency at Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK |
2009 | Redbull House of Art Residency, Sao Paulo, Brazil |
2009 | Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture fellowship, residency at Art Space, Sydney, Australia |
2023.09 | Excavation Today, The Museum of Modern Art in Gunma, Japan |
2020.02 | Before the Cypher, OIL Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
01 | Silver Marker and Some Stones, agnés b. galerie boutique, Tokyo, Japan |
2019.09 | Excavating Reflections, Galerie Chantiers Boite Noire, Montpellier, France |
07 | The Wall 01- Hiraku Suzuki, Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery, Hokkaido, Japan |
2018.10 | The Writing of Meteors, Each Modern, Taipei, Taiwan |
04 | Traffic, Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2017.10 | Hiraku Suzuki: Special Exhibition in collaboration with Arts Maebashi, rin art association, Gunma, Japan |
2016.10 | Constellations, Seibu Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
2015.09 | GENZO, Misa Shin Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
04 | Signs of Faraway, Aomori Contemporary Art Center, Aomori, Japan |
2013.03 | Excavated Reverberations, Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation, London, UK |
08 | Glyphs of the Light, WIMBLEDON space, London, UK |
2010.12 | U, island MEDIUM, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | GENGA and Recent Drawings, Galerie du Jour Agnes b., Paris, France |
2008.02 | NEW CAVE, Tokyo Wonder Site Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
2006.07 | dig, Galerie du Jour Agnes b., Paris, France |
2004.11 | NAZO, UPLINK Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2003.02 | Hiraku Suzuki Solo Exhibition, INAX Gallery 2, Tokyo, Japan |
2000.07 | bacteria sign, Gallery Fresca, Tokyo, Japan |
2024.05 | The 9th Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Nikkei Nihonga Award, The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, Japan |
2023.07 | Arts Maebashi 10th Anniversary Collection, Arts Maebashi, Gunma, Japan |
07 | Interconnection, Hiraku Suzuki and Keita Mori, Mitsukoshi Contemporary Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2022.08 | ROOTS & ARTS SHIRAOI, Former Shiraoi Hakkutsudo, Hokkaido, Japan |
08 | Art Front Selection 2022 summer, Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
07 | Signals – Drawing Tube, NADiff a/p/a/r/t, Tokyo, Japan |
03 | MOT Collection – Garden of Light / Continuing Whispers, The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Japan |
03 | N/world, MtK Contemporary Art, Kyoto, Japan |
01 | Drawings – Plurality, PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan |
2021.11 | Traces of Life, Arts Maebashi, Gunma, Japan |
10 | EXPOSITION GRAFFITI ET LA GALERIE DU JOUR AGNÈS B. 1985 – 2021 – , La Fab, Paris, France |
10 | New Horizon (duo exhibition with Sohei Nishino), Each Modern, Taipei, Taiwan |
09 | EXPOSITION GRAFFITI ET LA GALERIE DU JOUR AGNÈS B. 1985 – 2021 – , La Fab, Paris, France |
09 | Wavering Light/ Diffusing Color, The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma, Japan |
08 | Summer Selection:Drawing Nature, Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | constellation #02, rin art association, Gunma, Japan |
04 | Next World – Taguchi Art Collection, Iwaki City Art Museum, Fukushima, Japan |
2020.12 | —INSIDE THE COLLECTOR’S VAULT, VOL.1—, WHAT, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | Intermedia Art 2020 / APPRATION, The university Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | constellation #01, rin art association, Gunma, Japan |
2019.11 | MOT Annual 2019 Echo after Echo : Summoned voices, new shadows, The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
11 | Globe as a Palette ; Contemporary Art from The Taguchi Art Collection, Sapporo Art Museum, Hokkaido, Japan |
09 | DES PHOTOGRAPHES … DES ARTISTES ET LE CARDIGAN PRESSION, 17 rue Dieu, Paris , France |
09 | Globe as a Palette ; Contemporary Art from The Taguchi Art Collection, Hakodate Museum of Art, Hokkaido , Japan |
09 | BOOM, MO.CO. Panacée, Montpellier, France |
06 | Globe as a Palette ; Contemporary Art from The Taguchi Art Collection, Obihiro Museum of Art, Hokkaido, Japan |
04 | Globe as a Palette ; Contemporary Art from The Taguchi Art Collection, Kushiro Art Museum, Hokkaido , Japan |
02 | Art Miyagi 2019, The Miyagi Museum of Art, Miyagi, Japan |
2018.11 | Arawashi No Uta, Hajimari Art Centre, Fukushima, Japan |
10 | BEYOND WONDER -Perspectives of Utopia, Nagoya University of Arts, Aichi, Japan |
04 | Contemporary Art of the 21st Century, Hitatsuka Museum of Art, Kanagawa, Japan |
02 | psmg vol.003 Hiraku Suzuki × contact Gonzo, contact Gonzo Office, Osaka, Japan |
01 | Collection Exhibition: 3 Adventure in Seeing, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
2017.12 | The Riddle of Art – Takahashi Collection, Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka, Japan |
10 | point to line with Abdelkader Benchamma, Agnes b. Ginza, Tokyo, Japan |
10 | Flap-flop, Clap-clop: A Place Where Words Are Born, Arts Maebashi, Gunma, Japan |
04 | The Cosmos of the Takahashi Collection, Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan |
04 | Road – Ichihara Art × Mix, Art House ASOBARA Valley, Chiba, Japan |
03 | Sensitivity and Saltation, Pola Museum Annex, Tokyo, Japan |
03 | SIDE CORE – RO・SEN・ZU, Gallery TRAX, Yamanashi, Japan |
2016.09 | Yamagata Biennale 2018, Tohoku University of Art and Design, Yamagata, Japan |
07 | Takahashi Collection, Kanaz Forest of Creation, Fukui, Japan |
04 | Very Addictive – Re extension of Aesthetics in Daily Life, Yinchuan Museum of Contemporary Art, Yinchuan, China |
02 | Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2016, Garden in Movement, Yebisu Garden Place, Tokyo, Japan |
2015.12 | THINK TANK Lab Triennial/ International Festival of Contemporary Drawing, Museum of Architecture, Wroclaw, Poland |
11 | 5 × 3, Kunstraum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany |
10 | COSMOS/INTIME – LA COLLECTION TAKAHASHI, Maison de la culture du Japon a` Paris, Paris, France |
04 | TRAITS d’esprit, Galerie du Jour Agnes b., Paris, France |
2014.09 | The Principle of Hope | Kunisaki Art Festival, Former Kakadi Town Hall , Oita, Japan |
06 | Vancouver Biennale, Vancouver, Canada |
03 | DRAWING NOW PARIS, the Carreau du Temple and Espace Commines, Paris, France |
2013.09 | Nissan Art Award 2013, BankART Studio NYK, Yokohama, Japan |
09 | Takahashi Collection – Mindfulness!, Kirishima Open-Air Museum, Kagoshima, Japan |
07 | Takahashi Collection – Mindfulness, Sapporo Art Museum, Hokkaido, Japan |
04 | DRAWING NOW PARIS, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France |
02 | Wall Art Festival Warli, Jivan Sikshan Mandir Ganjad, Dahanu, India |
2012.09 | Son et Lumie`re, et sagesse profonde, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
07 | Panta Rhei (duo exhibition with Takehito Koganezawa), TALION Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | SIDE CORE, BA-TSU ART GALLERY, Tokyo, Japan |
03 | One And Many, Location One, New York, USA |
2011.11 | Far Away from the Surface (duo exhibition with Takuro Osaka), TALION Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | DRAWING – The Act of Making Lines, island MEDIUM, Tokyo, Japan |
2010.03 | Roppongi Crossing 2010: Can There Be Art?, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan |
2009.11 | Red Bull House of Art, Hotel Central, San Paolo, Brazil |
05 | Re:Membering – Next of Japan, Gallery LOOP, Seoul, Korea |
04 | Hundred Stories About Love, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
03 | VOCA – the Vision of Contemporary Art, 2009, The Ueno Royal Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan |
03 | Between Site & Space, Artspace Sydney, Sydney, Australia |
2008.11 | FIX MIX MAX!2: the Frontline of Contemporary Art, Miyanomori International Museum of Art, Sapporo, Japan |
10 | MIMITOME, Tou Scene, Stavanger, Norway |
09 | Diorama of the City: Between Site & Space, Tokyo Wonder Site Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
2004.08 | Tokyo Style in Stockholm, Karl Johans Torg, Stockholm, Sweden |
08 | Tokyo Style in Gothenburg, Roda Sten, Gothenburg, Sweden |
2002.08 | Tokyo Art Jungle, Tokyo International Forum, JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo, Japan |
2000.11 | World Wide Network Art 2000, Gallery Fleur, Honen-in, Kyoto, Japan |
2021.03 | Drawing Orchestra featuring Abdelkader Benchamma, TOKYO CANAL LINKS 2021, TERRADA ART COMPLEX Ⅱ, Tokyo, Japan |
2020.09 | Recollecting the new lines, YAMAGATA BIENNALE 2020, Tohoku University of Art and Design, Yamagata, Japan |
02 | Drawing Orchestra, w/ Daijiro Ohara, Naha Kanie, Sohei Nishino, Saori Hara, Mineki Murata, Yang02 and BIEN, The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
2019.12 | Performance Session, w/ Akio Suzuki, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Japan |
03 | Art Miyagi 2019, The Miyagi Museum of Art, Miyagi, Japan |
2018.06 | From A Tree, w/ Takehito Koganezawa, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
2017.12 | Drawing and Talking, w/ Ryuta Imafuku, Arts Maebashi, Gunma, Japan |
11 | Drawing Tube vol.3, w/ Abdelkader Benchamma, Tokyo Arts and Space Residency, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | New Optimism, w/ Miho Hatori, KATA, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | Sapporo International Art Festival 2017, w/ Gozo Yoshimasu, Sapporo Art Park, Sapporo, Japan |
08 | Mineki Murata + w, Mineki Murata, Gallery HASHIMOTO, Tokyo, Japan |
04 | Dairo Suga and Jason Moran in Tokyo and Kyoto, w/ Dairo Suga and Jason Moran, Rohm Theater, Kyoto, Japan |
09 | Drawing Tube vol.2, w/ Zon Ito, Kyoto University of Arts and Design Gaien Campus, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | Drawing Tube vol.1, w/ Gozo Yoshimasu, Tohoku University of Art and Design, Yamagata, Japan |
08 | Drawing Tube vol.0, w/ Kyohei Sakaguchi, shimauma, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | Improvisation of Sound and Drawing, w/ Miho Hatori, Yuji Katsui, U-zhaan, and Naoyuki Uchida, Shimokitazawa 440, Tokyo, Japan |
05 | Sings of Faraway, Aomori Contemporary Art Center, Aomori, Japan |
2014.10 | Yamagata Biennale 2014, w/ Akio Suzuki, Bunshokan, Yamagata, Japan |
10 | Red Bull Music Academy, w/ Keiji Haino, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | Awazu Kiyoshi, Makurihirogeru (EXPOSE)1 Art Running Wild: Awazu Kiyoshi and Performance, w/ Dairo Suga, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
06 | Vancouver Biennale, w/ Ross Birdwise, Soressa Gardner and Joe Rzemieniak, Coal Harbour Community Centre, Vancouver, Canada |
03 | COVERED TOKYO, w/ Dairo Suga, PARK HOTEL, Tokyo, Japan |
2013.02 | Wall Art Festival in Warli, Jivan Sikshan Mandir Ganjad, Dahanu, India |
01 | son et lumie`re, et, w/ Takashi Ueno, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
2012.07 | XXX, w/ Takashi Ueno, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | HORS PISTES, w/ Toshio Kajiwara, Yoko Higashino, Kosuke Kawamura and Rokapenis, UPLINK, Tokyo, Japan |
05 | PULSE, w/ Kitchen Orchestra and Tetsuya Nagato, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
03 | Opalnest presents Editquette, w/ Loren Connors and Julien Langendorff, Printed Matter, New York, USA |
2011.12 | Hiraku Suzuki Live Drawing, w/ Raz Mesinai, Location One, New York, USA |
08 | Glyphs of the Light, WIMBLEDON theatre, London, UK |
05 | Mai Jazz Festival, w/ Kitchen Orchestra and Tetsuya Nagato, TOU SCENE, Stavanger, Norway |
2010.12 | U, island MEDIUM, Tokyo, Japan |
06 | Agnes b. 2010 Spring Summer Collection, Agnes b. CMC, Paris, France |
03 | Roppongi Art Night, w/ Shing02, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan |
02 | Hoshi No Kozuchi De Kotsun, w/ Toshio Kajiwara, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
2009.07 | Hundred Stories About Love, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
05 | Hundred Stories About Love, w/ Shing02, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
04 | Hundred Stories About Love, recording w/ Takashi Ueno, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan |
2008.10 | MIMITOME, w/ Keiji Haino, Masaya Nakahara, Pikachu, Yasunori Ikunishi and Tetsuya Nagato, TOU SCENE, Stavanger, Norway |
08 | FLAT SESSION, w/ Kenji Nakamura GROUP, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
08 | Matar O No Matar, w/ BABY-Q, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
04 | INSIDE/OUTSIDE, w/ Shing02, JUNZO and Atsuhiro Ito, UPLINK FACTORY, Tokyo, Japan |
02 | Salon Tengoku vol.6, w/ Ken Takehisa, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
2007.05 | Mud and Words, w/Shuren the fire, Fitscore, Sapporo, Japan |
02 | w/ Kemumaki Yoko and Atsuhiro Ito, UPLINK FACTORY, Tokyo, Japan |
02 | Kuala Mute Geek vol.09, w/ Christophe Charles, andZONE, Tokyo, Japan |
2006.09 | Sound Channel, w/ EYE, Toshio Kajiwara and MOOCHY, Osaka, Japan |
07 | cooking 2, w/L?K?O, GRID605, Tokyo, Japan |
08 | dig, Galerie du Jour Agnes b., Paris, France |
07 | cooking 1, w/Takashi Ueno, GRID605, Tokyo, Japan |
2005.12 | Media Park Spica, Sapporo, Japan |
11 | w/ Fuyuki Yamakawa and KUJUN, UPLINK FACTORY, Tokyo, Japan |
10 | Agnes b. show, Takanawa Prince Hotel Kihinkan, Tokyo, Japan |
09 | Kosmic Renaissance Japan Tour, w/ Kosmic Renaissance and Naohiro Ukawa, Liquidroom, Tokyo, Japan |
04 | EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN, Nagoya, Japan |
2004.12 | NAZO NIGHT vol.4, w/ Tenniscoats, UPLINK Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
12 | NAZO NIGHT vol.3, w/ Yasunori Ikunishi, UPLINK Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
12 | NAZO NIGHT vol.2, w/ SEIN, UPLINK Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
12 | NAZO NIGHT vol.1, w/ Shing02 and DJ A-1, UPLINK Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
10 | w/ Tenniscoats, Spaon, Sapporo, Japan |
08 | Tokyo Style in Stockholm, w/ Shing02 and Hiroaki Umeda, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden |
01 | Son of Loud, w/ Mai Fujinoya and the Gamelan Orchestra, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
2003.11 | w/ Shing02, Liquidroom, Tokyo, Japan |
08 | Ten no Koe Chi no Matsuri, Sapporo Gokoku Shrine, Sapporo, Japan |
07 | w/Shuren the fire, BAR S-II, Sapporo, Japan |
07 | Asahi Art Festival 2003, w/ Kazufumi Kodama, Asahi Superdry Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
04 | MIND BOGGLER, w/ Yasunori Ikunishi and Takashi Ueno, Super Deluxe, Tokyo, Japan |
02 | Tokyu Deconstruction, w/Yasunori Ikunishi, Organ Bar, Tokyo, Japan |
2002.04 | GADABOUT, w/Shing02, MILK, Tokyo, Japan |
2000.11 | World Wide Network Art, Hounen-In Temple, Kyoto, Japan |
08 | bacteria sign, w/nibo and Chikara Iwai, Tsutsujinosato Public Park, Tokyo, Japan |
2023 | Excavation Today, (Tokyo: Drawing Tube, October 2023) |
2023 | DRAWING—Point, Line and Plane to Tube, (Tokyo: Sayusha, September 2023) |
2020 | SILVER MARKER—Drawing as Excavating, (Tokyo: HeHe, January 2020) |
2017 | Drawing Tube vol.01 Archive/ Hiraku Suzuki Drawing Performance, Guest: Gozo Yoshimasu, (Tokyo: Drawing Tube, July 2017) |
2015 | Hiraku Suzuki, Signs of Faraway | Langue and Space Vol.1, (Aomori: Aomori Contemporary Art Center, December 2015) |
2010 | Looking For Minerals, (Tokyo: BEAMS, Dec. 2010) GENGA, (Tokyo: Kawade Shobo Shinsha/ Agnes b., February 2010) |
2008 | TEAM 11 Hiraku Suzuki, (Tokyo: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture Tokyo Wondersite, March 2008) |
2022.11 | Towada City Community Plaza, Towada, Japan |
2021.08 | Agnes b. x Hiraku Suzuki “SIGNES SAUVAGE”, collaboration with Agnes b. |
2020.12 | Galeria Midobaru, Oita, Japan |
12 | Shiroiya Hotel, Gumma, Japan |
11 | RICOH 3L, Tokyo, Japan |
2017.01 | Do Dots Dream of Lines, public art at the underground walkway, Oita, Japan |
2016.12 | ART WALL, JINS Sannomiya, Kobe, Japan |
09 | Point to Line, Agnes b. Ginza, Rue du jour, Tokyo, Japan |
2015.10 | HIRAKU SUZUKI pour Agnes b.2015, collaboration with Agnes b. |
01 | COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS, collaboration with Rei Kawakubo |
2014.05 | COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS, collaboration with Rei Kawakubo |
2013.12 | ZOZO Base, Chiba, Japan |
01 | COMME des GARÇONS SHIRT, collaboration with Rei Kawakubo |
2012.05 | ART FAÇADE PROJECT Vol.5, Agnes b. Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan |
2011.11 | COMME des GARÇONS Aoyama, Kyoto, London, Hong Kong, Seoul and Beijing, collaboration with Rei Kawakubo and interior work |
2010.12 | COMME des GARÇONS Beijing, collaboration with Rei Kawakubo and interior work |
06 | Agnes b. HOMME Paris Collection, live drawing and wall drawing of the head office |
2009.09 | HIRAKU SUZUKI pour Agnes b.2009, collaboration with Agnes b. |
2008.10 | HIRAKU SUZUKI pour Agnes b.2008, collaboration with Agnes b. |
10 | ART FAÇADE PROJECT, Agnes b. voyage Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan |
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Agnes b. Collection, Paris, France
Arts Maebashi, Gumma, Japan
Fondation INK, Geneva, Switzerland
Ichihara Lakeside Museum, Chiba, Japan
Maezawa Yusaku Collection, Chiba, Japan
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Museum of Modern Art Gunma, Gunma, Japan
Nissan Art Collection, Kanagawa, Japan
City of Oita, Oita, Japan
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Taguchi Art Collection, Tokyo, Japan
Takahashi Ryutato Collection, Tokyo, Japan
Towada Art Center, Aomori, Japan
University of the Arts London, London, UK