TAKESADA MATSUTANI (JAPAN, B. 1937)

Since the 1960s, Matsutani has continually challenged the art form and medium. The organic form and sensuality in his art is inspired by imagea of blood enlarged under the microscope. He then invented a unique method in responding to his personal sense of materials: exhaling through a drinking straw into thick layers of semi-congealed pigments, they absorbed his breath in pockets and he let them expand or collapse as they would, thereby directly linking their physical nature with his inner essence. Viewers can feel the supple toughness of the membrane-like structures formed in the same way viewers experience soft sculpture.

By the 1970s, the soft membrane-like elements had evolved to hard minimal structure with the application of industrial materials—polyvinyl acetate adhesive. Object, 1978 (Lot 512) is a pure and smooth structure in white colour interrupted by a raw linen robe. Although two materials with distinct characteristics are placed together – smooth and raw, the piece attains an unexpected balance and subtle elegance.