Born in Nagoya, Japan. In 1958-60, Arakawa took part in neo-dadaist exhibitions and happenings and formed Neo Dadaism Organizers with two other artists. Three years later he moved away from neo dadaism. Around this time, he attracted attention for his so-called "casket works" that involved placing a cushion inside a wooden box and covering it with cement. In December 1961, Arakawa traveled to New York, where he has lived ever since. In 1963, Arakawa and Madeline Gins presented The Mechanism of Meaning series, diagram paintings that contain entangled elements of different dimensions such as words and symbols. In 1967, he purchased a building in the West Houston district to shoot films, and he has lived here ever since. In 1970, Arakawa exhibited his work in the Japanese Pavilion at the XXXV Biennale de Venezia. In 1973, Arakawa began an architectural experiment in Croton, a suburb of New York City. In 1977, he entered his work in "documenta 6". Arakawa was awarded the "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" by the French government in 1986, the Belgian Critics' Prize in 1988, and the CCA (College Art Association) Award in 1997. Arakawa/Gins created the exhibition, Reversible Destiny at the Guggenheim Museum SoHo, in New York, in 1997.