Sadamasa Motonaga

Sadamasa Motonaga

Sadamasa Motonaga was a pioneering figure in postwar Japanese art and a key member of the "Gutai Art Association", which he joined in 1955 and remained active in for 16 years. Inspired by natural phenomena, Motonaga created experimental works using unconventional materials, such as suspending coloured water in vinyl bags or incorporating smoke into performances. Later, he gained attention for his fluid abstract paintings, in which poured paint and pigments suggested the movement of rivers or cellular division. In his later years, he introduced onomatopoeic titles and a playful, whimsical approach to abstraction. As a leading avant-garde artist, he received widespread acclaim both in Japan and internationally, cementing his legacy in contemporary art.