Kazuo Shiraga

Kazuo Shiraga was a Japanese avant-garde artist and a key figure of the Gutai Group, active in the 1950s and 1960s. Known for his innovative painting technique, he often used his body as a primary tool—swinging, slamming, and writhing to create dynamic, expressive artworks. His approach blurred traditional boundaries between performer and painter, emphasizing spontaneity, movement, and physical engagement. Shiraga sought to explore the expressive potential of art through his bodily actions, making his work a pioneering example of performance-influenced abstract art that challenged conventional artistic norms.