Japan 1937 - 1956
Niigata years
Shigeko Kubota was born on August 2, 1937; the second daughter among four sisters, between junior high school teacher, Ryuen Kubota and music teacher, Fumie Kubota in Maki-machi, Nishi-kambara-gun (currently Maki-machi, Nishian Ward, Niigata City). She grew up in an artistic environment, and due to the influence of her grandfather, who was a Nanga-style painter, Shigeko took to painting at a young age. When she was a third grader, her painting was selected for an art competition of a magazine. In the fall of her high school sophomore year, her oil painting, Sunflower, entered the juried exhibition Nika-ten for the first time, and wasfeatured in a local newspaper.
Chronology Niigata Years
1937
■ [Aug. 2] Born as the second of four daughters Ryuen and Fumie Kubota in Maki-machi, Nishikan-ku, Niigata-city.
1944
■ [Apr.] Entered Primary School of Niigata University
1945
■ Temporarily moved to her father’s family home in Takada- city during the war.
1947
■ [Apr.] Transferred to PrimarySchool in Maki-machi
1950
■ [Mar.] Graduated from Primary School in Maki-machi
1953
■ [Apr.] Graduated from Naoetsu Municipal Middle School
■ [Apr.] Entered Niigata Prefectural Naoetsu High School. Her father was the principle there and invited Tatsuji Terashima as an art teacher from Tokyo.
■ [Summer] Ran away from home and lodged at a relative’s place, Jozenji Temple (Joetsu City), for a few months.
1954
■ [Oct. 9‒Oct. 26] Sunflower entered the 8th Niki-ten exhibition (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum).
1956
■ [Mar.] Graduated from Naoetsu High School.
■ [Apr.] Entered Tokyo University of Education and majored in sculpture. Joined the student movement.
1958
■ [Sept. 22‒Oct. 10 ] Sculpture Kubi A entered the 22nd Shinseisaku Exhibition (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum).
1959
■ [May 26‒June 7] Received an encouragement award for Shiseki at the 14th Niigata Prefectural Art Exhibition (Kobayashi Department Store, Niigata).
Chronology (1937ー2021)
Compiled by: Mayumi Hamada, Azusa Hashimoto, Mihoko Nishikawa, Midori Yoshimoto
For the catalogue, Viva Video! The Art and Life of Shigeko Kubota
Published by: Kawade Shobo Shisha Ltd. Publishing, 2021