BB64 1962

Kazuo Shiraga, a member of the Gutai group, made BB64 by using thick oil paint and his own body. Shiraga was known for his performance-based painting, often using his feet to manipulate the paint across a canvas laid on the floor. The intense physicality of his method is evident in the swirling textures and dynamic energy captured on the surface, where you can almost see the traces of his movements. This approach to painting connects with broader issues of labor and production. Shiraga’s process emphasizes the sheer physical effort involved in creation. It brings to mind the work of a manual laborer, contrasting sharply with the more cerebral and detached image of the traditional artist. The result is a raw, visceral artwork that challenges conventional notions of artistic skill and value. By focusing on the material qualities of paint and the physical act of making, we can appreciate how Shiraga blurred the lines between performance, action, and art object.