Biography
Emi Anrakuji was born in Tokyo, Japan. She studied oil painting at Musashino Art University in Tokyo. Soon after her graduation, she was diagnosed with a cerebral tumor which caused a severe degradation of her eyesight. The illness forced her to abandon her aspiration to become a professional painter. In the course of a decade-long recovery, one day she discovered that a camera can be a replacement of her eyes then began teaching herself photography at her hospital bed. Anrakuji's obsession with the human body is a result, in part, from her long periods spent hospitalized.
In her art, Anrakuji is an alchemist of images and a catalyst for daydreams and desires.
She is the author of critically acclaimed monographs, including her most iconic work IPY and MISHO which was selected as one of the finalists under the independent category of Lucie Photo Book Prize in 2018. Anrakuji's work continues to be exhibited and collected worldwide.
Awards
2019
2018 Finalist under the independent category, LUCIE PHOTO BOOK PRIZE, USA
2006 The 22nd Higashikawa new photographer award, Japan
2006 A Chairman's Prize, the Japan Alliance of Printing Industry, the 57th All Japan Calendar Competition, Japan
2003 International Photography Awards, 1st Place, the Fine Art Abstract Category and Fine Art Photographer of the Year, USA
2003 Excellence Awards, Visual Category, Little More, Japan
2003 Grand Prize, Albion Art Museum Photography Award, Japan
2002 Humming Bird Awards, Hirama Itaru Photographic Awards, Japan
2002 Excellence Award, Niigata Tomioka White Musem, Japan
2001 Excellence Award, London Photographic Awards, United Kingdom
Museum collections
The Peabody Essex Museum, Massachusetts, USA
The Museum of Fine Arts, Texas, USA
Higashikawa Awards Collection, Hokkaido, Japan
Joy of Giving Something, New York, USA
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, USA