Kiyoshi Yamashita

1922 Born in Asakusa, Tokyo.

1934 Entered Yawata Gakuen, a welfare institution in Chiba Prefecture. There he was introduced to the technique of harie (paper collage), and his extraordinary artistic talent was first recognized.

1939 Suddenly left Yawata Gakuen and began a wandering journey that would last for fifteen years. Inspired by the landscapes and scenes he encountered during his travels, he created numerous collage works that were highly acclaimed by artists, writers, and critics alike.

1954 Ended his years of wandering in Kagoshima. Over the following years, exhibitions of his work were held throughout Japan, attracting a record-breaking total audience of more than eight million visitors.

1961 Embarked on a sketching tour of Europe, traveling through dozens of countries in just over forty days. Upon returning to Japan, he organized a nationwide traveling exhibition featuring more than fifty drawings and watercolors produced during the journey, which received an enthusiastic public response.

1971 Passed away at the age of 49.