Archivio Conz

Shohachiro Takahashi (1933 Kitakami, Japan–2014 Karatsu, Japan) Shohachiro Takahashi was a Japanese visual poet and artist .He was a key figure in Japanese visual poetry, blending textual and abstract elements to create compositions that challenged traditional poetic forms. Takahashi was an active member of the "Vou" group, a collective of poets and artists engaged in experimental visual poetry from 1958 to 1978. His work explored the connections between language and image, pushing the boundaries of poetic expression by incorporating visual structures into his compositions. One of his notable pieces, "Senza titolo" (1967), reflects his approach to combining text with abstract imagery, creating a dynamic interplay between words and form. His contributions to the avant-garde poetry movement in Japan influenced subsequent generations of artists working at the intersection of literature and visual art. His relationship with Francesco Conz placed him in close dialogue with key figures of Fluxus and other experimental art movements. La Livre – An Homage to Ezra Pound was a project by Francesco Conz, which he pursued from 1986 until one year before his death in 2009. Conz invited artists to participate in the workshops at the Brunnenburg castle, with a total of 59 artists taking part. Takahashi was featured in La Livre XI, further expanding his influence in the realm of visual and conceptual poetry. Takahashi’s legacy remains significant in the history of Japanese experimental poetry, as his innovative techniques continue to inspire artists to explore the fusion of language and image.