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of art by this artist.
Shozo Shimamoto Biography
Shozo Shimamoto, born in Osaka, Japan, in 1928, was a pivotal figure in the post-World War II avant-garde art scene, best known for his foundational role in the Gutai Art Association. His artistic journey began in earnest after graduating from Kansui Gakuin University in 1950, where he delved into the realms of painting and sculpture, exploring the boundaries of artistic expression with a unique blend of vigor and philosophical depth.
Shimamoto's early encounters with art were marked by a transformative experience with the works of Zen artist-monk Nantenbo Toju, whose dynamic and energetically executed calligraphy left a lasting impression on him. This encounter not only influenced Shimamoto's artistic direction but also deeply embedded the principles of Zen, with its emphasis on spontaneity, chance, and the unity of action and consciousness, into his creative ethos.
In 1954, Shimamoto, alongside Jiro Yoshihara, co-founded the Gutai Art Association, a collective that would become Japan's most significant avant-garde group in the post-war era. The name "Gutai," meaning "concreteness," reflected the group's ethos of emphasizing the materiality of art, pushing against the abstract and conceptual trends of the time. Gutai artists sought to transcend the traditional confines of art, exploring new forms of expression that included performance, environmental art, and interactive installations. Shimamoto's contributions to Gutai were characterized by his innovative and often radical approaches to creation, including his famous "Bottle Crash" performances, where he would hurl bottles filled with paint onto canvas, merging the acts of destruction and creation into a singular, vibrant spectacle of color and form.
Throughout his career, Shimamoto remained deeply committed to the idea of art as a performative act, a process of direct engagement with materials that transcended mere visual aesthetics. His work was not only about the final product but also about the act of making, the physicality and energy involved in the creation process. This approach was evident in his diverse body of work, which ranged from his early "Hole" paintings, where he punctured layers of paper and canvas to explore the concept of space and absence, to his later "Bottle Crash" pieces and performance art.
Shimamoto's influence extended beyond the confines of the Gutai group and the Japanese art scene. His work was recognized internationally, with exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and the Jeu de Paume in Paris. His art is part of the permanent collections of major museums worldwide, including the Tate Modern in London, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Shimamoto was also a figure of cultural significance, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his contributions to art and culture. His legacy is that of an artist who continually sought to break boundaries, to challenge and expand the definitions of art, and to infuse his work with a profound sense of life's impermanence and the beauty of the moment. Shozo Shimamoto passed away in Osaka in 2013, leaving behind a rich and varied body of work that continues to inspire and challenge artists and audiences alike.
Shozo Shimamoto Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
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professionalism.
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