Saito Yoshishige, who had been working in poverty for about 10 years after World War 2, won the Newcomer’s Award at the “Kon’nichi no shinjin 57-nen” (Today’s Newcomers 1957) exhibition (sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun). He was 53 years old at the time. Although he had been doing creative work since before the war, he was celebrated as a newcomer. On the introduction of Takiguchi Shuzo, a poet and old acquaintance, he held a series of solo exhibitions at galleries in Ginza. This work was one of the exhibits. Saito used an electric drill to scratch the surface of a plywood board, creating unexpected irregularities. He then mixed paint with beeswax that had been melted with lavender oil and other chemicals, applied the mixture to the board, and allowed it to soak in. He then carved away at the board again with the drill and repeated the process over and over again. This is what produced the deep colors and unique textures. (KASHIWAGI Tomoh)
Saito Yoshishige, who had been working in poverty for about 10 years after World War 2, won the Newcomer’s Award at the “Kon’nichi no shinjin 57-nen” (Today’s Newcomers 1957) exhibition (sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun). He was 53 years old at the time. Although he had been doing creative work since before the war, he was celebrated as a newcomer. On the introduction of Takiguchi Shuzo, a poet and old acquaintance, he held a series of solo exhibitions at galleries in Ginza. This work was one of the exhibits. Saito used an electric drill to scratch the surface of a plywood board, creating unexpected irregularities. He then mixed paint with beeswax that had been melted with lavender oil and other chemicals, applied the mixture to the board, and allowed it to soak in. He then carved away at the board again with the drill and repeated the process over and over again. This is what produced the deep colors and unique textures.
(KASHIWAGI Tomoh)