Mizubasyo [Skunk Cabbage] 水芭蕉

SATO Tamotsu 佐藤　多持

Divided into red, yellow and other colors, this painting titled Mizubasho was created in 1955 as a piece of experimental abstract art utilizing the powdered mineral pigments. The painter have painted two black parts with different pigments, one with the burned verdigris and another with burned cobalt blue, and we can see his attitude to search the every possibility of traditional material such as powdered mineral pigments. Though it is a small piece, it is an important work when considering the history of Japanese art crusade in postwar period at Tokyo area. The painter continued on working under the same theme, creating a series of abstract paintings that express Mizubasho, or white arum, flowering on the face of water over rapping one and others with flowing lines of black Japanese ink only.

Collection of: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Title: Mizubasyo [Skunk Cabbage]
Artist Name: SATO Tamotsu
Year: 1955
Category: Painting&Print
Material / Technique: Color on paper
Acquisition date: 2006
Accession number: 2006-00-0009-000
MOT Collection Search: https://mot-collection-search.jp/shiryo/4938/