Michiko & Iwao Yamawaki / Mariko Takagi and Helena Čapková

Show notes

This episode is dedicated to a Japanese couple who went all the way to Germany to study at the Bauhaus in Dessau: Iwao and Michiko Yamawaki. When they met each other in 1928 Iwao Fujita had already studied architecture in Tokyo and was also actively involved in the theatre. Michiko came from a very wealthy family and was a culturally educated young woman of 18 years. By marrying into the Yamawaki family Iwao profited from their wealth. He happily took on Michiko’s family name in exchange for a World trip with that one final destination: the Bauhaus in Dessau.

In July of 1930 the Yamawakis left Japan, stayed for some time in New York and then went on to Berlin and Dessau. After the preliminary course Michiko decided – due to her interest in fashion – to go into the weaving workshop. Iwao, though an already formed architect, chose to continue in the photo class. He developed a special interest in photo montages. One of them entitled „The attack on the Bauhaus“ became the visual epitome of the forced closure of the Bauhaus by the Nazis and is today often used as an illustration of that dark last period of the Bauhaus. These two years at the Bauhaus shaped the future of the Yamawakis sustainably. Upon returning to Japan in 1932, they became pivotal figures in introducing Bauhaus principles to their home country. They brought back a vast collection of Bauhaus objects, books, and furniture, creating a Bauhaus-inspired ambiance in their Tokyo home. And they both taught at art schools using the Bauhaus principles of Josef Albers’ Vorkurs.

On this episode not one but two great researchers help me tell the story of Michiko and Iwao Yamawaki: Helena Capkova and Mariko Takagi. And a special shout-out to Anika Takagi who allowed me to use her wonderful illustrations of the Yamawakis.

SHOW NOTES https://www.bauhausfaces.com | @bauhausfacespodcast https://marikotakagi.de Helena Čapková COVER: Iwao & Michiko Yamawaki, illustration © [Anika Takagi](https://www.anikatakagi.com)

Mavo movement and Tomoyoshi Murayama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavo Senda Koreya https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senda_Koreya

Archives / Collections with Iwao Yamawaki’s photos Tate Modern, London MoMa, New York Musashino Art University Collection

Articles about Iwao & Michiko Yamawaki at the Bauhaus Yamawaki Michiko: A Japanese Bauhaus story with Mariko Takagi, Video on Youtube Google Arts and Culture Karl Lagerfeld (ed.): Iwao Yamawaki, 1999 Nicole Opel: "From Dessau to Tokyo Japan and the Bauhaus", 2017

Photos by Iwao Yamawaki https://www.artnet.de/künstler/iwao-yamawaki/2 https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Iwao-Yamawaki/8EF3C7D489EA8924

"The Attack on the Bauhaus" Mariko Takagi: “The Attack on the Bauhaus” – A Collage that Became a Symbol of the Closure of the Bauhaus, 2019, bauhaus imaginista