Work 1972

Kazuo Shiraga created this painting, aptly titled "Work," using oil paint, and more unusually, his own body. Shiraga was a member of the Gutai group, who sought to break free from traditional painting practices. In his works, materiality is everything. You can see the thick oil paint applied directly to the canvas, smeared and striated, bearing the marks of his physical engagement. Shiraga suspended himself above the canvas, using ropes and hooks. He then manipulated the paint with his feet, creating dynamic and energetic compositions. This process was not just about applying pigment, but a performative act, a kind of dance with the materials. The resulting texture has an almost sculptural quality, with peaks and valleys that catch the light. By abandoning brushes and embracing the physicality of his body, Shiraga challenged conventional notions of artistic skill and authorship. "Work" becomes not just a painting, but a record of the artist's labor, a testament to the power of process and materiality.