Shinkichi Tajiri (AMERICAN, B. 1923)

Tajiri's work from the 1950's, which is still largely orientated towards French art, combines, on the one hand, characteristics of the Surrealism/Cobra trend, such as aggression, eroticism, spontaneity and a personal language of symbols; on the other hand, it is part of the Informal tendency, displaying a pre-occupation with decay and a use of unaffected, rough materials. All of this is accompanied by a relentless search for new materials and techniques, as well as a great deal of skills. (from: H. Bavelaar, Tajiri, Ghent 1990, p. 44)