Nobuyoshi Araki
荒木經惟
Nobuyoshi Araki (荒木 経惟) is a Japanese photographer and contemporary artist. He is also known by the nickname Araki (アラーキー). Araki has published over 500 books. He is known primarily for his photography that blends eroticism and bondage in a fine art context.
Born in Tokyo on May 25, 1940. He studied film and photography at Chiba University from 1959, receiving a degree in 1963. He then went to work at the advertising agency Dentsu, where in 1968 he met his future wife, the essayist Yoko Aoki.
Araki is considered to be one of the most prolific artists alive or dead in Japan. Many of his photographs are erotic; His work has been said to exist on a line between art and pornography. Among his photography books are Sentimental Journey (1971), and Tokyo Lucky Hole (1990). Sentimental Journey "1972-1992" is a diary of life with his wife Yōko until she died of ovarian cancer in 1990. The first part of Sentimental Journey sees the couple embarking on married life – their honeymoon and having sex. Pictures taken during her last days were published in Winter Journey. Parr and Badger include four of Araki's books in the first volume of their photobook history: Zerokkusu Shashincho 24 (Xeroxed Photo Album), Senchimentaru na Tabi (Sentimental Journey), Tokyo Lucky Hole and Shokuji (The Banquet).
He contributed photography to the Sunrise anime series Brain Powerd.
In 1981, Araki directed High School Girl Fake Diary (女高生偽日記 Jokōsei nise nikki), a Roman Porno film for Nikkatsu studio. The film proved to be a disappointment both to Araki's fans, and to fans of the pink film genre.
The Icelandic musician Björk is an admirer of Araki's work, and served as one of his models. At her request he photographed the cover and inner sleeve pages of her 1997 remix album, Telegram. More recently, he has photographed pop singer Lady Gaga.
In 2005, an American director, Travis Klose recorded a documentary about Araki called Arakimentari, which discusses his personal lifestyles and his arts.
Araki was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, and has since undergone surgery which successfully removed the tumor.
In 2010, Araki's cat, Chiro died of old age.
In October 2013, Araki lost the vision in his right eye due to a retinal artery obstruction. The 74-year-old man used this as an inspiration to exhibit his works, called Love on the left eye, held on 21 June 2014 at Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo.
Commissioned by Italian luxury label Bottega Veneta, Araki photographed Saskia de Brauw and Sung Jin Park in Tokyo for the brand’s spring/summer 2015 campaign.
