day 5- ARAI SHIN-ICHI
[Tokyo Japan]

www.araiart.jp/9o105.html

"Thank you Joseph Beuys"


Saturday, May 9
8:00 pm
Free / By Donation

Petit Retrospective of ARAI Shin-ichi
Works from 1999-2009

The last of 5 nights of performances by Mr. Shin-ichi

Thank you Joseph Beuys / Arigatou Joseph Beuys

When I was an art student, Joseph Beuys came to Japan for his big exhibition in Tokyo in 1984, and he gave some lectures. The lecture I attended had a huge audience. After the lecture, most of the audience members wanted to get his autograph. I was in line with them, also.

At last I got his signeture on my bag and I was very happy!

In those days, we often discussed how we could make new art which could create a revolt in our society in Joseph Beuys� style.

Then I met KONISHI Yasu, who studied under Joseph Beuys in Germany. One of the performances they did with Joseph Beuys in east Berlin, was to clean the city streets on May Day (International Workwer's Day/May 1st).

But these days I forget Joseph Beuys. For me, now, he is not as important, like in my student days.

Last year I visited a Chinese artist friend in Beijing, whom I respect very much, and found a paperback book about Joseph Beuys, in Chinese, on his book shelf.

Arai Shin-ichi www.araiart.jp/
www.myspace.com/arashin