Work 121B 

Kazuo Shiraga made this abstract work with ink on paper. But don't let the simplicity of these materials fool you; the impact of his labor is monumental. Shiraga was associated with the Gutai group in Japan, which embraced performance and action as essential to artmaking. The artist was known for using his entire body to manipulate paint, often suspending himself above the canvas and using his feet to create sweeping gestures. In this work, you can see the energetic strokes, the drips and splatters, all marks of a body in motion. The ink bleeds into the paper, creating a dynamic interplay between control and chance. The dark ink against the light paper creates a sense of depth and texture that invites you to consider the sheer physicality involved in its creation. Shiraga's approach challenges traditional notions of painting, elevating the act of creation to the forefront. It reminds us that art is not just about the final product, but also about the labor, the process, and the context in which it is made.