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Lot Essay
Taizo Yoshinaka was embedded with a profound idealism of art and its role in Japanese society, but during the rapid economic development in post war Japan, he grew critical and wary and reflected such sentiments in his artwork. While fearlessly experimental and varied in usage of mediums, Yoshinaka's works consistently reflected his disillusionment for society's newfound absorption with capitalism.
Yoshinaka's artworks are profound in adhering to his ideal to only articulate reflections of truthful existence that, like a deciphered code, spills upon the viewer upon examination of his oeuvres. A Certain Time and Space B (Lot 1141) and A Certain Time and Space A (Lot 1140) are two works of his most seminal "white paintings" period where a seemingly modest flat plane is tediously crafted in multiple layers, constructing a textured relief. Coating a white surface with black paint, the black is subsequently erased with an oil soaked cloth by process of elimination; the resulting geometrically composed still lifes are far from minimalist in the traditional sense. The monochromatic painting's seemingly illogical elongated forms paradoxically craft a modest yet highly balanced visual composition of distinct Japanese flavour. This aesthetic quality exuding comfort and inexplicable familiarity is achieved through the lack of embellishments, fanciful colours or fabrication as to not distract from the truthful existence of these objects. Tranquil yet defined, the viewer cannot cower from the powerful sense of determination in the graceful depiction of the chair, balloon or table. It is through simplistic shapes and tones that Yoshinaka's complex character and deep contemplative critic on society is fashioned. In the small creases of the paint or the black that slowly seeps into the beige, we can imagine the artist carefully and purposefully fulfilling his artistic and personal endeavours. These works can be regarded as the culmination of his life's works and trials; truthful to his artistic absolutes, Japanese spirit and all the while uncompromising in technique and meticulousness.
Yoshinaka's artworks are profound in adhering to his ideal to only articulate reflections of truthful existence that, like a deciphered code, spills upon the viewer upon examination of his oeuvres. A Certain Time and Space B (Lot 1141) and A Certain Time and Space A (Lot 1140) are two works of his most seminal "white paintings" period where a seemingly modest flat plane is tediously crafted in multiple layers, constructing a textured relief. Coating a white surface with black paint, the black is subsequently erased with an oil soaked cloth by process of elimination; the resulting geometrically composed still lifes are far from minimalist in the traditional sense. The monochromatic painting's seemingly illogical elongated forms paradoxically craft a modest yet highly balanced visual composition of distinct Japanese flavour. This aesthetic quality exuding comfort and inexplicable familiarity is achieved through the lack of embellishments, fanciful colours or fabrication as to not distract from the truthful existence of these objects. Tranquil yet defined, the viewer cannot cower from the powerful sense of determination in the graceful depiction of the chair, balloon or table. It is through simplistic shapes and tones that Yoshinaka's complex character and deep contemplative critic on society is fashioned. In the small creases of the paint or the black that slowly seeps into the beige, we can imagine the artist carefully and purposefully fulfilling his artistic and personal endeavours. These works can be regarded as the culmination of his life's works and trials; truthful to his artistic absolutes, Japanese spirit and all the while uncompromising in technique and meticulousness.