abstracted form of an erupting volcano at bottom, in purple-brown, overlapping a black band; dreamy background of dark gray, brown, and purple; triangular shape entering plane at R; two irregular lines overlapping scene at L and one at R; built-up layers of cloth tape at corners, with a few pieces along edge

%C2%A9 Shinro Ohtake

Retina #27 (Active Volcano), 1990-1991

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

Shinro Ohtake is one of Japan’s leading and most innovative contemporary artists. His practice extends from the creation of visual arts projects and artist books to sound and architectural projects. Ohtake’s vast scrapbook collection—first begun in 1977—form the backbone of his multifaceted practice, which ranges from painting, to assemblage, collage, drawing, monumental sculpture, architectural environments, and experimental noise music. Through his noise band JUKE/19 (1978–1982), Ohtake has also influenced the direction of experimental music in Japan.

In the mid-1980s, Ohtake began to habitually record his dreams through works on paper and collage. These vague, shifting images would appear to him as he viewed the underside of his eyelids. According to the artist, “[t]he colors of the underside of the eyelid are truly mysterious colors. The real world glimpsed through the shutter-speed filter of a single layer of skin opening and closing over the surface of the eyeball transforms momentarily into another world. The underside of the eyelid is the only dreamscreen we have to look at when we shut our eyes.”

The Retina series gives these vague shapes that lingered hazily in the artist’s mind a concrete form by means of photography. Through a process of camera-less manipulation of positive film in a solution, the artist creates liquid images in a dreamy palette of aquarelle colors that become abstract representations of time and memory.

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Details
Title
Retina #27 (Active Volcano)
Artist Life
born 1955
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2016.81
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

abstracted form of an erupting volcano at bottom, in purple-brown, overlapping a black band; dreamy background of dark gray, brown, and purple; triangular shape entering plane at R; two irregular lines overlapping scene at L and one at R; built-up layers of cloth tape at corners, with a few pieces along edge

© Shinro Ohtake

Because of © restrictions, we can only show you a small image of this artwork.