Hesselbein-Tajiri Archive

Bonnefanten holds a unique archive that attests to Hesselbein's friendship with Tajiri.

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Bonnefanten and Shinkichi Tajiri (1923-2009) are closely linked. First of all, the collection holds several artworks by this American-Japanese sculptor. This ranges from work on paper to sculptures. The museum also owns an important ensemble of sculptures by artist Ferdi (1927-1969), with whom Tajiri lived in Scheres Castle in Baarlo from 1962 onwards. In 2023, the Bonnefanten dedicated a major solo exhibition to Tajiri, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The exhibition, entitled The Restless Wanderer, was curated by his grandchildren.

Arrival Hesselbein-Tajiri Archive

Furthermore, in 2022, the Hesselbein-Tajiri Archive was handed over to the museum. The archive was compiled by Martin Hesselbein, former editor of the Bonnefans. This bulletin was founded in 1985 by the Association of Friends of the Bonnefanten Museum. After 2001, no new editions were published. In 2022, the whole archive was transferred to the museum, just like the Hesselbein-Tajiri Archive.

Content Archive

For about twenty years, Hesselbein collected all kinds of documents that cover his friendship with Tajiri. He collected photos and newspaper clippings of artworks, but also of publicity around exhibitions or, for example, the swing band ‘Timbre Tajiri’. The archive contains signed CDs and DVDs, ranging from a broadcast of ‘Het uur van de wolf’ to his film about Ferdi and his short film ‘The Vipers’, both from 1955. Hesselbein and Tajiri corresponded about artworks, exhibitions and potential purchases by museums.

Importance Archive

The artist's creativity is demonstrated by the envelopes, Christmas cards and stamps that Hesselbein received from Tajiri. These are works of art in themselves. The same goes for the computer drawings, sometimes in various states, that Tajiri sent him. In 1993, Hesselbein interviewed the artist in honour of his 70th birthday. That year, the Bonnefans paid tribute to the artist via a special bulletin. The interview between Hesselbein and Tajiri was included in the original English version. All in all, the archive offers an insight into the friendship between the two, which shows Hesselbein's fascination for Tajiri and brings us a little closer to the artist. In this way, the archive is a valuable source for internal and external research into Shinkichi Tajiri.

Bonnefanten is very grateful to Martin Hesselbein for the generous donation of the Hesselbein-Tajiri Archive.

Header: Shinkichi Tajiri and Martin Hesselbein, Castle Scheres 13 October 1993, photo Paul Mellaart, Hesselbein collection.