Kishio Suga
Western style painter
Shio Suga is known as a major member of the Mono-ha, an art movement that emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s. Unlike conventional art expression such as painting and sculpture, the Mono-ha explored the existence of materials themselves and the relationship between materials and space by presenting commonplace "objects" such as stone, wood, and metal as works of art.
Shio Suga's works are characterized by the combination and arrangement of different materials, such as stone and glass or wood and metal, in a space that accentuates the unique presence of each material and at the same time creates a sense of tension and relationship between them. He also incorporates the exhibition space itself, such as the floor and walls, as part of the work, creating installations that stimulate the viewer's vision and senses.
Representative works include "Relation" (1969), which combines stone and glass, "Situation" (1970), which combines wood and metal, and "Corridor" (1972), which creates tension between a steel plate on the floor and wood propped up on the wall.
Kishio Suga's works are also characterized by the influence of Eastern thought, such as Indian philosophy and Buddhism. In particular, the concepts of emptiness and nothingness are expressed in his works in the form of the innocence of the materials and the sense of unity with the space.
Shio Suga is an artist who is highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. In recent years, his activities have become increasingly international, with solo exhibitions held at major museums in Europe and the United States.
As a representative artist of the Mono-ha school, Shio Suga is highly regarded as a major influence on postwar Japanese contemporary art. His works, which explore the existence of materials themselves and the relationship between materials and space, are considered to have pioneered a new vision that differs from conventional art expression. Influenced by Eastern thought, his works create a unique atmosphere of spirituality and mystery, posing deep questions to the viewer.
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