Untitled 1963

This untitled artwork was created by Kazuo Shiraga, and is a striking example of his unique approach to painting. Shiraga was a key member of the Gutai Art Association, a radical postwar Japanese art collective that sought to break free from traditional artistic conventions. Here, he has applied oil paint onto the canvas using his feet. The thick impasto and swirling lines capture the physicality of the artistic process. There is an emphasis on performance and action, transforming the act of painting into a kind of dance. Shiraga suspended himself above the canvas, using ropes or a trapeze to maneuver his body and apply the paint with his feet. By embracing such unconventional methods, Shiraga challenged the traditional role of the artist as a skilled craftsman. The artwork embodies the spirit of the Gutai movement, emphasizing the raw energy and materiality of the creative act. It invites us to reconsider the boundaries between painting, performance, and the body.