ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Kazuo Shiraga: The 'Hairy' Avant-Garde in Japan

publication · 2026-04-24

This artpress dossier from December 1986 examines Kazuo Shiraga, a key figure in Japan's avant-garde movement. Known for his 'hairy' style (poilus), Shiraga was a member of the Gutai group. The article questions why these three artists were chosen for interviews, noting that Japan lacks a tradition of artists writing or speaking about their own works.

Key facts

  • Artpress published a dossier on Japan's avant-garde in December 1986.
  • The dossier focuses on Kazuo Shiraga.
  • Shiraga is described as being 'au pays des poilus' (in the land of the hairy).
  • Japan has no strong tradition of artists writing or speaking about their works.
  • The article questions the selection of three artists for interviews.

Entities

Artists

  • Kazuo Shiraga

Institutions

  • artpress
  • Gutai

Locations

  • Japan

Sources