Pleasure of Wearing 1971

Kazuo Shiraga made this painting, Pleasure of Wearing, with ink on paper, and looking at it is like peering into the mind of a process. Shiraga was part of the Gutai group, who explored gesture and materiality to find new ways of making. The ink is laid down in these repeated, arching strokes, almost like a comb dragged across the surface, creating texture. As your eye moves from left to right, the marks become darker, denser, more confident. Each stroke isn’t just a shape; it’s a record of movement, a dance between the artist and the ink. The way the ink bleeds and pools suggests a kind of surrender to the medium. I'm reminded of Franz Kline, though Shiraga’s work feels more grounded, more about the body’s direct interaction with the material. Ultimately, Shiraga shows us that art isn’t about answers, but about embracing the endless possibilities of the question.