Takesada Matsutani
Oblique
Oblique
$375,000
1996
Vinyl adhesive and graphite pencil on canvas mounted on plywood
Each panel 180 x 122 x 5.5 cm / 70 ⅞ x 48 x 2 ⅛ in
Takesada Matsutani’s oeuvre has been defined by his experimentation with unexpected materials and unusual techniques in pursuit of highly original visual effects. Inspired by the plastic quality of vinyl glue, the artist began working with the material in 1961, when it first became widely available in Japan. Matsutani went on to master the medium, transforming a commonplace substance into something magical, which straddles the line between painting and sculpture. By applying the glue to canvas, letting it partially dry to form a skin and then manipulating it with air blown through a straw, or with hairdryers and fans, Matsutani brings the material to life—a principle central to Gutai.
‘Oblique’ (1996) is a diptych made up of two black canvases crossed by parallel lines. Matsutani created several works based on such dynamic slanting lines in the 1980 and 1990s, bringing an intense energy to the black and white surfaces. The vinyl adhesive obliques bring texture and volume to the flat surface, adding another aspect to the layers of graphite and augmenting the richness of the deep shadows. The dynamic and monumental effect is reinforced here by the associative relationship between the two canvases.
About the artist
From the early 1960s until the 1970s Matsutani was a key member of the ‘second generation’ of the influential post war Japanese art collective, the Gutai Art Association. Over five decades Matsutani has developed a unique visual language of form and materials. As part of the Gutai group, Matsutani experimented with vinyl glue, using fans and his own breath to manipulate the substance, creating bulbous and sensuous forms reminiscent of human curves and features.
Artwork images © Takesada Matsutani. Photo: Jon Etter
Portrait of Takesada Matsutani in his studio, 2021 © Takesada Matsutani. Photo: Valérie Sadoun