Work A30 1970

Editor: Here we have Funasaka Yoshisuke's "Work A30," created in 1970, a mixed-media piece featuring geometric abstraction. It strikes me as fragmented, almost like a deconstructed map. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It is indeed fragmented, and that fragmentation speaks volumes. I see this work as a response to the rapidly changing social and political landscape of 1970s Japan. Consider the student movements and the anxieties surrounding modernization. Do you see how the sharp, colourful lines are almost violently disrupted? Editor: Yes, now that you mention it, there is a sense of unease. I hadn't really considered the political context. So, the abstraction isn’t just about form; it’s about representing a society in flux? Curator: Precisely. And let's not forget the use of mixed media. What does that choice signify? Perhaps a blending of tradition and modernity, a negotiation of different cultural forces at play? This era saw an unprecedented negotiation between the traditional arts and Western avant-garde movements, with artists seeking new identities that balanced the demands of modernity and their cultural heritages. How does that influence your perception? Editor: That definitely adds another layer. It’s not just a formal exercise; it’s a statement about cultural identity during a time of intense change. I was too focused on the visual, and missed the historical narrative. Curator: It’s a common oversight, and one that art history constantly tries to redress, asking how and why artists respond to historical contexts in the way they do. We must interrogate art for its social impact. Editor: This really opens up how I'll look at abstract art from now on. Thanks for pointing out what I missed, which enriches my appreciation a lot. Curator: And thank you for bringing a fresh pair of eyes and making the dialogue between the work and its historical significance newly compelling.