The artwork, titled “picture-5,” crafted by Kazuo Shiraga in 1960, is a distinguished piece within the Conceptual Art movement and belongs to the genre of performance art. It captures a moment of the artist engaged in the physical act of painting, using his body as a dynamic tool to create the work.
In the artwork, Kazuo Shiraga is depicted in a state of intense concentration and movement, generating a powerful visual narrative. He is seen in mid-action, poised with one leg elevated and his hands extended forward, gripping an unseen material or tool. His attire, covered in paint, suggests the vigorous method he employs. The floor around him is transformed into a canvas, filled with swirling patterns and bold strokes of paint. The setting appears to be an indoor space lit naturally, with curtained windows providing a backdrop, and the overall ambiance conveys a sense of dedication and immersion in the artistic process. This piece effectively communicates Shiraga’s explorative and performative approach to art-making, emphasizing the physicality and immediacy involved in his creative practice.
