Retina ＃9（Brown Head）

Born in Tokyo in 1955, Shinro Otake is a contemporary artist leading the Japanese art scene. After staying in London from 1977 to 1978 and graduating from Musashino Art University in 1980, Otake held his first solo show in 1982. Otake drew attention as a flag bearer of new painting in Japan. Ever since then, he has been committed to creation of collages of junk pieces as well as objects. In addition to art creation, Otake has worked extensively in design, music, and writing arenas. He moved his base for creation to Uwajima City in Ehime Prefecture in 1988. Otake formed a unit called PUZZLE PUNKS with Yamataka EYE in 1995. In 2006, Shinro Ohtake Zen-Kei: Retrospective 1955-2006 was held at Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. Otake participated in documenta 13 (Kassel) in 2012. His activities beyond the boundaries of art are widely supported in Japan and the world, especially by young generations.

Imagining how Surrealist artists and color field painting artists moved their hands does not help reexperiencing the creation of Retina ＃9 (Brown Head) because Otake tactfully produced the image on the large panel, though it may look abstract, by employing the mechanism of how polaroid film generates images. The glossy matière covered with plastic resin is most distinctive feature of the Retina series.