November 25th, 2023

Happy Saturday! To my friends who celebrated Thanksgiving this week in the US, hopefully you have recovered from the feasting and finally polished off the leftovers.

Since the holiday is all about being thankful, I wanted to express my appreciation for all of you who have stuck with me so far. I’ve really enjoyed putting this newsletter together and it makes me smile knowing you all are on the other end reading each week.

I have something special for you at the end, so keep reading 😉 

Artist Spotlight - Kazuo Shiraga

Career

Kazuo Shiraga's career was marked by bold experimentation and a radical departure from traditional art forms, establishing him as a key figure in the post-war avant-garde art movement in Japan. Shiraga began his career immersed in traditional Japanese painting techniques, studying at the Kyoto City University of Arts. His early works reflected this background, showing a mastery of conventional forms.

However, in the early 1950s, Shiraga's style began to shift dramatically. Influenced by the burgeoning avant-garde movement and Abstract Expressionism from the West, he started experimenting with more radical forms of expression. This period marked a significant transition from his traditional roots to a more innovative and expressive style.

In 1954, Shiraga became a founding member of the Gutai Art Association, a collective that played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the Japanese art scene. The Gutai group sought to break away from the artistic conventions of the time, advocating for an art that was more intuitive, physical, and interactive. The philosophy of Gutai emphasized the importance of the relationship between the body, the materials, and the space. Shiraga's contributions aligned perfectly with this ethos, as he incorporated his body into his painting process, challenging traditional notions of art-making. His signature style of painting was created using his feet to apply paint to the canvas.

Contributions to the Art World

Shiraga expanded the possibilities of artistic expression and influenced the post-war avant-garde movement. His method of using his feet to paint, often while suspended from a rope, was revolutionary. This physical engagement with the canvas was more than a mere technique; it was a statement about the act of painting itself, emphasizing the artist's body as an integral part of the creative process. This approach expanded the boundaries of how art could be made, moving beyond traditional tools and methods.

As a key member of the Gutai movement Shiraga's work embodied the principles of artistic freedom, innovation and breaking of boundaries between art and the audience. He influenced a generation of artists to think more broadly about the nature and potential of art.

Shiraga's art gained international attention, influencing artists beyond Japan. His unique approach and the philosophical underpinnings of his work resonated with global art movements, contributing to a more diverse and expansive understanding of abstract art.

Style

Shiraga's method of painting was also a performance, blurring the lines between creating art and performing. This dual nature of his work contributed significantly to the development of performance art as a recognized genre.

While abstract expressionism is often associated with American artists, Shiraga's work provided a unique and influential perspective within this movement. His dynamic, action-filled canvases paralleled the emotive intensity of American abstract expressionists, adding a distinctive, physically engaged dimension. His legacy continues to inspire contemporary artists, particularly those exploring the intersection of physicality, action, and visual expression.

Influences and Lessons

While Shiraga’s initial training was in traditional Japanese painting, he later rebelled against it’s precision and adherence to established techniques. The post-World War II period saw a surge in interest in Western art in Japan. Abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock were particularly influential, with their emphasis on spontaneity, emotional intensity, and unconventional techniques. Pollock's action painting, where the process of making the art was as important as the final product, resonated with Shiraga.

As he became more involved with the Gutai Art Association movement, he was encouraged to break free from traditional art norms and explore new forms of expression. This bold exploration of different mediums and techniques serves as an inspiration to push creative boundaries.

Shiraga's method, which was performative and involved in the moment, underscores the significance of the process in creating art. It suggests that the act of making art can be as expressive and meaningful as the finished work. His work exemplifies how integrating diverse artistic perspectives can lead to groundbreaking and innovative art and underscores the importance of cross-culture influences in our own art practice.

Style Representation

Collectors Corner

mark webster - Found Images II

Artist Highlight - Rikkar

With it being a holiday week, I didn’t want to add to anyone’s stress so this week will be my answers to my questions 🙂 we’ll be back to regular programming next week.

Rikkar, can you share a pivotal moment in your life that profoundly influenced your artistic journey and the themes you explore in your work?

I can’t say there is one distinct moment, however my early childhood was impactful in ways I only understood once I discovered AI art. My father was an artist with a side gig painting signs for businesses in our local area of Southern California. He did it all, from vinyl decals to sand blasting redwood signs and then hand lettering logos. He was also frugal and opted to craft birthday and anniversary cards by hand using watercolors and a thin line Sharpie pen instead of throwing money away to Hallmark.

I saw this creativity on a weekly basis, and often wanted to create something beautiful as well. But I never asked him to teach me, and looking back I see that as a wasted opportunity. Those memories inspire me today in what I create, leaning into the beauty of nature and the simplicity of geometry that I saw my father using for his paintings.

How do you navigate the relationship between personal vulnerability and public exposure in your art? Is there a piece of yours that felt particularly exposing to create or share?

I sometimes feel like I expose my vulnerability in ways that others won’t recognize, but that I know are there. I’m a very private person, both online and in real life, and have struggled with that for as long as I can remember. I recently asked myself why I was creating ethereal portraits and crafting prompts to tease the AI into displaying emotion on the faces in the images. It came to me that since I’m not an outwardly emotional person, I was instead trying to imbue the portraits with emotion that I can’t see myself displaying. In a subtle way, I’m projecting vulnerability into the public sphere but I’m not sure that it’s something most people would pick up on.

In what ways do your artistic practices and processes serve as a dialogue with your own identity, culture, or the larger issues of the world today?

I portray nature in a lot of my art, and try to highlight the beauty of it in different art styles. My personal ethos is optimism is always the best outlook, and to me art reminds us of the beauty that we take for granted every day. The world needs more beauty and I want to contribute to that, as cliche as it may sound.

Art often requires a balance between discipline and spontaneity. Can you discuss a time when a spontaneous change of direction in your work led to a breakthrough or a significant change in your approach?

My process is continuously changing and pivoting based on what the pixels give me. Most of my minted work ends up in a very different place from the idea that started me down that path in the first place. A recent example is my “Through the Glass“ collection on the OpenMarket. It originally started as another exploration of AI landscapes mixed with De Jong Attractors, but quickly morphed into a 3D box. Then the idea hit of creating a window to view the world, and the creativity started flowing for all the scenes that one might envision outside their window when they woke up in the morning.

I’m incredibly proud of the resulting long form collection and the direction one can take when they’re open to letting the ideas flow freely.

If you could have a conversation with one artist, past or present, who has significantly inspired you, who would it be and what would you ask them about their own creative practice?

I’ve been a long time fan of Katsushika Hokusai and the woodblock ukiyo-e style. An extremely prolific artist, Hokusai created so many amazing prints of broad subjects. I would love to ask him what inspired him so much about nature, and why something as simple as a wave or an orchid flower demanded so much of his attention as he painstakingly carved the woodblock. His most famous works were also created after the age of 60, and it would be super interesting to get his opinion on what affect age had on his career.

Are there any pieces or collections that you want to direct readers to check out?

Absolutely, my latest long form collection on Eth is called “Gradient Visions” and can be found on Emprop’s OpenMarket. It’s a collaboration between p5.js code and SDXL, with each initial image created from a random pallet forming a gradient. It’s a celebration of nature and generative coding.

Gradient Visions - Rikkar

Final Thoughts

As promised, I have something just for the readers of this newsletter.

NFT.NYC has kindly provided NFT Postcards for all the artists selected to be exhibited at the conference and the first ten people to use the link can claim one of mine for free! I’m beyond stoked to have been selected and can’t wait to attend in April.

As always, if you enjoyed this edition I would really appreciate if you shared it. Just hit the share button below. And if you’re not following me on X yet, I’d love to follow you back.

On that note, I’ll leave you a quote that we should all remember.

Enjoy your weekend, friend!

P.S. If you have feedback I’d love to hear it! A reply to this email goes directly to me.