The History of Bigakkō from its Founding until 2019

This text originally appeared in Bigakkō 1969-2019: Jiyū to jikken no akademeia [Bigakkō 1969-2019: The Free and Experimental Academy] (Shōbunsha, 2019), a crowdfunded book published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bigakkō, an alternative art school in Tokyo’s Jinbōchō district.

Founded in 1969 by publisher Gendai Shichōsha, the Bigakkō is well-known for its unique stance in opposition to the mainstream academy system. Still active as of 2022, the school has over the years welcomed a long and notable list of instructors including Matsuzawa Yutaka, Akasegawa Genpei, Aida Makoto, and Ushiro Ryūta (Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group).

More archival than analytical, this text offers a valuable firsthand overview of the Bigakkō’s first 50 years. Of particular interest are accounts of the school’s founding in 1969, near-closure (and separation from Gendai Shichōsha) in 1975, as well as descriptions of the school’s instructors and titles of the classes they taught.

Although the name Bigakkō appears frequently in Japanese-language writing on postwar art, most existing literature tends to focus on specific individuals or time periods in the school’s history. This indexical overview, available here in English translation, will surely be an important resource for future researchers.

Title

The History of Bigakkō from its Founding until 2019

Author

Edited by Bigakkō

First published

2019

Translation

Caroline Mikako Elder

Editing

Bigakkō, Mike Fu, Yamamoto Hiroki

Design

Ian Lynam

Theme

Exhibitions, Events, and Sites

First Posted Online

2023-03-31

Last modified

2023-03-31

© 2022 Bigakko + Bunka-cho Art Platform Japan

The newly published English translations on this website (https://artplatform.go.jp) can be used without permission only for the purposes of education, research, critique, survey, and the like. English translations cannot be copied for the purpose of sale or distribution. You must comply with the Rules Governing the Use of the English Translations.

Citation

Footnote/endnote: Bigakko, "The History of Bigakkō from its Founding until 2019," trans. Caroline Elder, Bunka-cho Art Platform Japan, posted March 31 , 2023, artplatform.go.jp/readings/R202234.

Bibliography: Bigakko. "The History of Bigakkō from its Founding until 2019." Translated by Caroline Elder. Bunka-cho Art Platform Japan. Posted March 31 , 2023. artplatform.go.jp/readings/R202234.

Original Japanese Edition

“Bigakkō-shi: Kaikō kara 2019-nen made” in Bigakkō 1969–2019 Jiyū to jikken no akademeiya [Bigakkō: Akademia of freedom and experimentation] (Tokyo: Shobunsha, 2019), 56–70.

「美学校史　開校から2019年まで」『美学校 1969-2019 自由と実験のアカデメイヤ』晶文社、2019年、56–70頁。

National Diet Library(NDL)

https://id.ndl.go.jp/bib/029848269

ISBN

978-4-7949-7096-1