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Biography

Seiichi FURUYA was born in Izu, Japan, in 1950. He left the port of Yokohama to travel to Europe on the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1973, after graduating from Tokyo Polytechnic University in 1972. He lived in Vienna until he moved to Graz in 1975. There he met Christine Gössler (born 1953) in February 1978. The couple married in May of the same year in Seiichi’s hometown Izu in Japan. Their son, Komyo-Klaus, was born in 1981. In 1982, they moved to Vienna so that Christine could study drama. In 1984, Seiichi took a job as an interpreter and the family moved to Dresden, East Germany; and then in 1985, to East Berlin.

In late 1982, Christine began to exhibit symptoms of schizophrenia. In 1983, she entered a hospital in Graz for treatment; she had to interrupt her acting studies and has since been hospitalized from time to time. Shortly after noon on October 7th, 1985, the 36th anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic, Christine threw herself from a window on the 9th floor of the apartment building where the family lived. Seiichi continued to work as an interpreter in East Berlin until 1987. Afterwards he returned to Graz.

Since 1975, FURUYA has had numerous exhibitions, both in Japan and overseas, at such venues as: Forum Stadtpark (Graz, Austria), Fotomuseum Winterthur (Switzerland), Albertina Museum (Vienna, Austria), Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Museum (Tokyo, Japan). He has published several photo books featuring Christine, starting with his Mémoires 1978-1988 (Camera Austria, 1989) and continuing with Mémoires 1995 (Scalo Books, 1995), Christine Furuya-Gössler, Mémoires 1978-1985 (Korinsha Press, 1997), Portrait (Fotohof, 2000), Last Trip to Venice (self-published, 2002), Mémoires 1983 (Akaaka Art Publishing, 2006), Mémoires.1984-1987 (Izu Photo Museum/Camera Austria, 2010), Border (spector, 2014), WHY DRESDEN 1984/2015 (spector, 2017). The latest publication Face to Face (Chose Commune) was published in 2020.

What’s more, he has been active in a wide range of projects: he was one of the founders of the photography magazine Camera Austria and has also curated exhibitions introducing Japanese photographers to Europe, such as Daido Moriyama, (Graz, 1980), Shomei Tomatsu: Japan 1952-1981 (Graz, 1984), Nobuyoshi Araki: Akt-Tokyo 1971-1991 (Graz, 1992), Keep in Touch. Positions in Japanese Photography (Graz, 2003).



to Group exhibitions
to Awards/Scholarships
to Public collections

Solo exhibitions

year exhibition gallery location
2024 Aus den Fugen Galerie Reinisch Contemporary Graz, Austria
2022 Seiichi Furuya Photo Exhibition "Chapter 2 Mother 1981.11-1985.10" Shadai Gallery Tokyo, JP
Seiichi Furuya photo exhibition "Chapter 1: Wife 1978.2-1981.1" Shadai Gallery Tokyo, JP
Face to Face PALAZZO GUINIGI - Photolux Festival Lucca, IT
First Trip to Bologna 1978 / Last Trip to Venice 1985 Chiostri di San Pietro (Fotografia Europea) Reggio Emilia, IT
2019 Mémoires ANDREAS MURKUDIS/Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
Staatsgrenze 1981-1983 / Border 1981-1983 SPOT Gallery Zagreb
2017 Staatsgrenze 1981-1983 Stadtmuseum Hartberg Hartberg
2016 Gravitation Port 25-Raum für Gegenwartskunst Mannheim
Gravitation Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
2015 Was Wir sehen. Dresden 1984-85 Kunsthaus Dresden Dresden
GRAVITATION Technische Sammlungen Dresden Dresden
Erinnerung - Kontrolle Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig Leipzig
2014 Wo die Wahrheit liegt Heidelberger Kunstverein Heidelberg
Die Nacht war ich da (with Einar Schleef) Mauer-Mahnmal im Deutschen Bundestag Berlin
2013 I prefer to be on this side Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
2012 Mémoires 1978-1988 Fotohof Salzburg
If when why Museum für Photographie Braunschweig
2011 Mémoires Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
2010 Trace Elements Nederlands Uitvaart Museum Tot Zover Amsterdam
Mémoires. Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto Kumamoto
Aus den Fugen 2010, Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum Nagaizumi
Mémoires. Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography Tokyo
2007 Mémoires 1983 Gallery Place M Tokyo
im fluss Rathole Gallery Tokyo
Aus den Fugen Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum Nagaizumi
2005 Seiichi Furuya foto-forum Bozen
2004 Seiichi Furuya Albertina Wien
alive Camera Austria-Kunsthaus Graz
2003 Seiichi Furuya SCALO Gallery Zürich
Seiichi Furuya Wekstadt Graz Graz
2002 Last Trip to Venice Shinjuku Nikon Salon Tokyo
2001 Portrait SCALO Gallery Zurich
Portrait Camera Austria Graz
Christine SCALO Gallery New York
Recent Work Past Rays Gallery Yokohama
2000 Portrait Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie, St. Trophime Arles
Berlin-Ost 1985-1987 LA CAMERA Tokyo
1998 Mémoires Museum für Photographie Braunschweig
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 Nikon Salon Osaka
1997 Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 PAST Rays Gallery Yokohama
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 Gallery Nayuta Yokohama
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 J.M. Gallery Tokyo
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 Ebisu Studio Gallery Tokyo
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 EGG Gallery Tokyo
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 Shinjuku Nikon Salon Tokyo
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 Verso Photo Gallery Tokyo
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 Taka Ishii Gallery Tokyo
Christine Furuya-Gössler 1978-1985 WORKS. H Yokohama
Mémoires Robert Miller Gallery New York
1995 Mémoires Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterthur
1994 Zu Hause in Berlin-Ost Forum Stadtpark Graz
Vertreiben-Flüchten ZEIT-FOTO SALON Tokyo
Border/Borderless Fotohof Salzburg
1991 Staatsgrenze The Brno House of Arts Brno
Mémoires Parco Gallery Tokyo
Mémoires exposure Tokyo
1990 Mémoires Museum moderner Kunst Vienna
Mémoires Perspektief Rotterdam
1989 Mémoires Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum Graz
1987 Staatsgrenze Galerie Faber Vienna
1984 AMS Galerie Gabriel Vienna
1983 Staatsgrenze Galerie 7-Stern Steyr
Mythos und Ritual Grazer Kulturhaus Graz
1982 AMS Nagase Photo Salon Tokyo
AMS Canon Photo Gallery Amsterdam
1980 AMS Forum Stadtpark Graz
1979 Portraits von Christine Forum Stadtpark Graz
1978 Seiichi Furuya Galerie im Taxispalais Innsbruck
1977 Seiichi Furuya Fotogalerie Koper Koper; SI
1976 Seiichi Furuya Fotogalerie FOCUS Ljubljana, SI
1975 199 Fotos Fotogalerie im Schillerhof Graz

Group exhibitions

year exhibition gallery location
2024 Poetic Record: Photography in a Transformed World Lewis Center for the Arts’ Hurley Gallery Princeton, USA
An den Rändern taumelt das Glück. Die späte DDR in der Fotografie station urbaner kulturen/nGbK Hellersdorf Berlin, Germany
ÜberGrenzen. Künstlerischer Internationalismus in der DDR Humboldt Forum, Berlin Berlin, Germany
Das Bild ist, was es tut Sprengel Museum Hannover, Germany
Xerox Cushion Works San Francisco, USA
A Reflection on the Sublime Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art Hiroshima, JP
TF Editions Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin, Germany
Breaking Down Walls! The Collections Museum der Moderne Salzburg Salzburg, Austria
2023 Integrating Technology & Art through Photography: Tokyo Polythecnic University 100th Anniversary Exhibition TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM Tokyo, JP
Exposure Camera Austria Graz, Austria
Walking Through the Darkness Centre for Contemporary Photography Melbourne, AU
Songs Of Experience Phileas Vienna, Austria
"The Genealogy of Light" 100th Anniversary for Tokyo Polytechnic University Shadai Gallery Tokyo, JP
Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York
2022 Die späte DDR in der Fotografie ACC Galerie Weimar Weimar, Germany
(Wahl-)Familie – Zusammen weniger allein Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterhtur, CH
something new, something old, something desired Hamburger Kunsthalle Hamburg, Germany
intimacy / privacy Forum Stadtpark Graz, Austria
one artist - one minute Galerie Fotohof Salzburg, Austria
2021 Enjoy: Die Mumok Sammlung im Wandel Museum moderner Kunst Vienna, A
Song of Experience Museum for Contemporary Art of Rome Rom, IT
Contemporary Japanese Photography 1985-2015 Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Tokyo, JP
2020 SCHNITTSTELLEN: Aus der Sammlung der NSKS Sprengel Museum Hannover
Beyond the Image: Bertien van Manen & Friends Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NL
Trauern: Von Verlust und Veränderung Hamburger Kunsthalle Hamburg
2019 Schaulust Photoforum Pasquart Biel, CHE
Wer wir sind und was wir tun - mitten im Museum Mitte Museum Berlin
MOMAT collection / "Seiichi Furuya. Portrait of Christine" The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo
METAMORPHOSEN Reinisch Comtenporary Graz
Von Ferne. Bilder zur DDR Museum Villa Stuck München
Aufgeblüht und abgelichtet: Blumen in der Fotografie Galerie Stihl Waiblingen Waiblingen, Germany
2018 Photo/Politics/Austria Museum moderner Kunst, Wien Wien
25 Jahre! Gemeinsam Geschichte(n) schreiben Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterthur
Camera Austria International:Laboratory for Phtography and Theory Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Separation Miguel Abreu Gallery New York
2017 Carpet Protection Reorder Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
Raum und Fotografie Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Blick Verschiebung ZKR-Zentrum für Kunst und Öffentlichen Raum Schloss Biesdorf Berlin
Japanese Photographers Maison europeenne de la photographie Paris
Austria Photography 1970-2000 Albertina Wien
Acting for the Camera Albertina Wien
Austria Facing Salzburg Museum Salzburg
2016 Ende vom Lied Künstlerhaus Bethanien Berlin
Land & Leute Albertina Wien
Behold the Man Museum De Fundatie Zwolle
Black & White. Highlights aus der Fotosammlung der Albertina Albertina Wien
Staatsgrenze 1981-1983 ORF-Landesstudio Steiermark-Funkhausgalerie Graz
MOT-Annual 2016: Lose Lips Save Ships Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Tokyo
About Time: Photography in a Moment of Change San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco
In and/or out Grisebach Düsseldorf
Nouvelles de l'île des bienheureux - Art et culture en Autriche depuis le 19e siècle Musée du château des ducs de Wurtemberg Wurtemberg
Klasse Kunst V. Gemischte Gefühle Landesgalerie Linz Linz
Und pölzlich diese Weite Sprengel Museum Hannover
Gravitation Werkstadt Graz, Graz Graz
Geschenkt - Gekauft - Gefunden: Neuzugänge in der Sammlung Fotografie 2005-2015 Münchener Stadtmuseum München
2015 Dinge bewegen Museum der Moderne Sazgurg
SITUATION #24 Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterthur
Black & White Albertina, Vienna Wien
2014 Grenzfälle. Eiserner Vorhang Landesgalerie LInz Linz
Punctum Salzburger Kunstverein Salzburg
The New Humanists: Hybirds in Purgatory Autocenter Berlin
Morning and Evening Asylum Tanya Leighton. Berlin + Off Vendome Düsseldorf
2013 Double Bound Economies Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
Flowers & Mushrooms Museum der Moderne-Moenchsberg Salzburg
Collection on Display IV/The Magic of the Object Museum der Moderne-Rupertinum Salzburg
DIE WELT VON HANS FRANK Photomuseum Bad Ischl Bad Isch
Re-encounters/Izu Photo Museum Collection Izu Photo Museum Nagaizumi, JP
AGES: Portraet vom Aelterwerden Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung, Koeln; Landesgalerie Linz am Oberoesterreichischen Landesmuseum Köln, Linz
Photos: Points of View in Austrian Photography from the 1930s until Today 21er Haus, Museum of Contemporary Art Vienna
2012 The Serial Portrait: Photography and Identity in the Last One Hundred Years The National Gallery of Art Washington, USA
CONTEMPORARY STILL LIFE Reinisch Contemporary Graz
Private Galerie Thomas Fischer Berlin
To Wander a Garden Vangi Museo, Nagaizumi Graz
Staatsgrenze 1981-1983 ZOLLAMT Bad Radkersburg
2011 Playground and Battlefields Pavillion Populaire Montpelier
2010 SHADOWS Works from the National Museum of Art The National Art Center, Tokyo Tokyo
De la Cité internationale des Arts a la Maison Européenne de la Photographie Cité internationale des Arts Paris
2009 Sehnsucht nach dem Abbild kunsthalle Krems Krems
Fragility of Being. National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest, Romanian/Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Darkside II: Fotografische Macht und fotografierte Gewalt Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterthur
2008 Trace Elements: Sprit and Memory in Japanese and Australian Photomedia Tokyo Opera City, Tokyo; Performance Space, Sydney Tokyo, Sydney
2007 The Naked Portrait Scottish National Portrait Gallery Ediburgh
Picturing Modernity San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco
Rückblende. Die Fotosammlung der neuen galerie Graz Neue Galerie Graz Graz
2006 In the Face of History: European Photographers in the 20th Century Barbican Art Gallery London
Why pictures Now Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien
Modern Paradise The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo
epSITE retrospective 1998-2006 epSITE Tokyo
Memory Nikon Plaza Ginza Tokyo
Das Bild des Menschen. Fotografische Porträts aus 50 Jahren Städtischen Galerie Traunstein Traunstein
cross-border.Fotografie und Videokunst aus dem MUMOK Wien Kunstmuseum Stuttgart Stuttgart
Blicke: Passanten - 1930 bis heute. Aus der Fotosammlung der Albertina Albertina Vienna
2005 Simultan Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Sagamihara Awards Shijuku Nikon Salon Tokyo
entwickelt Landesgalerie am Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseum Linz
from east and west shugoarts Tokyo
DAS NEUE ÖSTERREICH Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Wien Wien
2004 Sagamihara Awards Sagamihara Civic Gallery Sagamihara, JP
Commonscapes The Miyagi Museum of Art, Sendai Miyagi, JP
2003 COLD PLAY Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterthur
Freundschaftsspiel Camera Austria Graz
2002 PERSONAL-POLITICAL; NUMETNOSTNA GALERIJA MARIBOR Maribor. Gallery of Contemporary Art Celje Celje, SI
2001 PERSONAL-POLITICAL CANKARJEV DOM Ljubljana
Unique sign - Unique location Kunstlerhaus Graz
Enduring Love Gasser Grunert Gallery New York
The Model Wife The Art Institute of Chicago/The Cleveland Museum of Art Chicago
The Contemporary Art Biennial of Lyon Lyon Lyon
2000 The Model Wife Museum of Photographic Arts San Diego
OPEN ENDS Museum of Modern Art New York
1999 LOVE'S BODY SUNTORY MUSEUM Osaka
1998 photographic diaries Art Pavilion Zagreb
LOVE'S BODY: Rethinking Naked and Nude in Photography Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography Tokyo
1997 CHIMAERA Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg Halle
The Artist & An Urban Environment Art Gallery Sovenj Gradec Gradec, SI
Kunst der Banalen Stadtmuseum Graz
1996 Stadtpark Zwei Art Pavilion Zagreb, HR
1995 KONZEPT Art Pavillion Zagreb
Antagonismes Centre National de la Photographie Paris
New Japanese Photography Civic Art gallery, Yokohama Yokohama
1994 siebzehn Forum Stadtpark Graz
Vertreiben-Flüchten Nederlands Foto instituut Rotterdam
Fisch & Fleisch Kunst Halle Krems Krems
Three Photographers:Seiichi Furuya, Erich Lazar, Manfred Willmann Stadtgalerie Bratislava, SK
1993 Forum Stadtpark Graz, Austria Museum des Zenturms für Volkskunst Kharkiw , UA
Border/Borderless Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography Tokyo
Krieg Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum Graz
Flesh and Blood Kilkady Museum Scotland
Stadtpark 1 1600 Smith in Cullen Center Houston
1992 Stadtpark eins Institut Autrichien Paris
Zeitgenössische Photographie aus der Sammlung des Museums moderner Kunst in Wien Slowakische Nationalgalerie Bratislava, SK
1991 Peripherie Haus der Architektur Graz
1990 Zeichen im Fluss Museum des 20. Jahrfunderts Vienna
Opposition Fotografie Biënnale Rotterdam II Rotterdam
1989 Zwischen Himmel und Erde Stadtmuseum Graz
Stadtpark eins Kunsthaus Zug Zug, CH
1988 Über-Lebens-Energie Ostbahnhof Graz
Questioning Europe Fotografie Biënnale Rotterdam I Rotterdam
Die Rache der Erinnerung Forum Stadtpark Graz
1985 Six Austrian Photographers Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles; Arbitrage Gallery Los Angeles, New York
1984 Neue Fotografie aus Wien Galerie gabriel Vienna
1983 Portraits Fotogareria Forum Tarragona
Geschichte der Fotografie in Österreich Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts Vienna
1982 Graz 1982 Galerija Sinagoga Maribor, SK
Lichtbildnisse Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn
Neue Fotografie aus Österreich Galerie Annasäle Innsbruck
1981 Erweiterte Fotografie Wiener Secession Vienna
Europäische Fotografie II Forum Stadtpark Graz
1980 Europäische Fotografie Forum Stadtpark Graz
1979 5 Jahre Fotografie im Forum Stadtpark Forum Stadtpark Graz
1977 Leben mit einer Stadt Kulturhaus Graz Graz

Awards/Scholarships

year award location
2024 Decoration of Honor of the Province of Styria for Science, Research and Art Austria
2019 Austrian State Prize for Artistic Photography Austria
2017 State Scholarship for stay in Istanbul Austria
2007 Society of Photography Award, Tokyo Japan
2006 State Scholarship for stay in Paris Austria
2004 Sagamihara Award, Sagamihara Japan
Österreichischer Kunstpreis – Künstlerische Fotografie/Austrian Art Prize - Artistic Photography Austria
2002 Ina Nobuo Award, Tokyo Japan
1999 Rupertinum Award, Salzburg Austria
1996 State Scholarship for Art Photography Austria
1995 State Scholarship for stay in Paris Austria
1993 Camera Austria Award for Contemporary Photography, Graz Austria
1992 Higashikawa Newcomer's Award, Higasikawa, Japan Japan
1990 Society of Photography Award, Tokyo Japan
1989 European Kodak Book Award for "Mémoires" Germany
1982 Photography Promotion Award of the City of Graz Austria

Public collections

gallery location
Albertina Museum Vienna
Berlinische Galerie Berlin
Bundeskanzleramt Wien
Centre Pompidou Paris, F
Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin
Direction de la Culture Montpellier
Fotomuseum Winterthur Winterthur
Hamburger Kunsthalle Hamburg
Higashikawa City Higashikawa, JPN
Maison Européenne de la Photographie Paris
Metropolitan Museum of Art New York
Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien Wien
Museum of Modern Art New York
Museum of Photographic Arts San Diego
Münchner Stadtmuseum München
National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo
Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum Graz
Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz
REFCO COLLECTION Chicago & New York
Rupertinum Salzburg
Sagamihara City Sagamihara
Sammlung der Kulturvermittelung Steiermark Graz
Sammlung der Stadt Graz Graz
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco
Sprengel Museum Hannover Hannover
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
The Municipal Archive Amsterdam Amsterdam
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography Tokyo
Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum Nagaizumi
Österreichische Fotogalerie / Museum der Moderne Salzburg