関口コオ Koh Sekiguchi (1937-2018)

Scenes from the Heart: Koh Sekiguchi’s Kirie Printmaking

Born in 1937 in Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, Koh Sekiguchi (né Kokichi Takei / 武井功吉) began his career as a graphic designer and illustrator, establishing his own studio in 1960. In the mid-1970s, he turned his focus to kirie (切り絵) - the traditional Japanese art of paper-cutting - developing a refined style that combined bold silhouette with quiet emotional depth. In 1977, he co-founded the Japan Kirie Association (日本きりえ協会), helping to raise kirie from craft to contemporary art form. His work soon gained national recognition, earning the Silver Prize at the Japan Tourism Poster Contest in 1980 for a design depicting the four seasons of his native Jōshū region.

Sekiguchi’s prints are broadly grouped into three themes: warabe (童, children), shinshō fūkei (心象風景, inner landscapes), and onna (女, women). These delicate compositions evoke scenes of childhood play, quiet rural paths, and maternal warmth - everyday moments rendered with clarity and care. Quietly moving, his works are shaped by memory, affection, and a deep appreciation for tradition, beauty, and the passage of time. Exhibited widely across Japan, Europe, and North America from the 1980s onward, his paper-cut and silkscreen works helped reintroduce kirie to international audiences as a serious and expressive medium.

In 2010, Sekiguchi opened the 関口コオきり絵美術館 in Takasaki City - a museum dedicated to his life’s work (https://sekiguchi-koh.jp). He remained closely involved with the institution until his death in 2018 at the age of 81. The museum continues to present seasonal exhibitions drawn from his three major series, while the Japan Kirie Association (http://japankirie.com) remains active in nurturing new generations of artists. Today, Sekiguchi’s gentle vision endures - a world cut from paper, but full of warmth, memory, and quiet grace.