// Natural History by Arakawa Shusaku is a serigraph print that explores abstract concepts of decision-making and perception through minimalist design and textual elements. The artwork features a line that begins on the left and subtly slopes downward, accompanied by a colorful cluster of vertical lines on the right. Below, phrases such as the length of decision and the nature of taste or bullshit provoke thought on human choices and subjective interpretation. Created in 1969, this limited edition print (192/200) embodies Arakawa’s intellectual approach to art, where language and geometry intersect to question reality and the nature of decision.
Shusaku Arakawa (Japan, 1936–2010) was a visionary artist and architect whose work challenged conventional perceptions of space and existence. Co-creator of 'reversible destiny' architecture, he blended conceptual art with experimental design to provoke thought about life and mortality. Arakawa’s groundbreaking works, often in collaboration with Madeline Gins, continue to influence contemporary art and architecture.
Serigraph Serigraph is a printmaking process that uses silk screen techniques to create an image. The image is digitally separated into individual colors, each of which is assigned to a separate silk screen. These screens are then used to apply each color by hand, layer by layer, to replicate the original artwork, often based on an oil painting.
// Natural History by Arakawa Shusaku is a serigraph print that explores abstract concepts of decision-making and perception through minimalist design and textual elements. The artwork features a line that begins on the left and subtly slopes downward, accompanied by a colorful cluster of vertical lines on the right. Below, phrases such as the length of decision and the nature of taste or bullshit provoke thought on human choices and subjective interpretation. Created in 1969, this limited edition print (192/200) embodies Arakawa’s intellectual approach to art, where language and geometry intersect to question reality and the nature of decision.
Shusaku Arakawa (Japan, 1936–2010) was a visionary artist and architect whose work challenged conventional perceptions of space and existence. Co-creator of 'reversible destiny' architecture, he blended conceptual art with experimental design to provoke thought about life and mortality. Arakawa’s groundbreaking works, often in collaboration with Madeline Gins, continue to influence contemporary art and architecture.
I am looking for a new definition of perfection. Choose everything.
- Shusaku Arakawa
Shusaku Arakawa (b. 1936 Japan, d. 2010 USA) was a Japanese-American artist and architect known for his radical approach to both visual art and the built environment. Arakawa, along with his partner Madeline Gins, developed an artistic and architectural philosophy known as "Reversible Destiny," which aimed to challenge conventional notions of mortality and the human condition. His works span painting, installation, and architecture, characterized by a playful yet profound exploration of the body's interaction with space and its surroundings. Arakawa's architectural projects, like the "Mitaka Reversible Destiny Lofts" in Tokyo, are designed to engage occupants physically and mentally, promoting longevity and rethinking the concept of living spaces. Drawing on influences from Dada and Conceptual Art, his practice sought to break down boundaries between disciplines, merging art, philosophy, and science to create environments that defy traditional living paradigms. (Artist website)
Lettrism is an art form that uses letters, words, and symbols to create artwork. The movement was established in Paris in the 1940s and later gained popularity in the 1950s in America. Lettrisme is the French spelling of the movement's name, derived from the French word for letter.