Ay-O (1931) - 〇△× - Silkscreen 1980

AY-O(靉嘔)"〇△×" 1980 Silkscreen

This work, Circle, Triangle, and Cross, is a lithograph created in 1980 by contemporary artist AY-O, known worldwide as the "Rainbow Artist." It is the 10th of a limited edition of 75. Simple, universal shapes—circles (circles), triangles (triangles), and crosses (x)—are superimposed on vivid rainbow-colored stripes, creating a work comprised of powerful lines and free rhythms.

Rainbow gradations are synonymous with Ay-O, and he has continued to depict them not simply as decorative expression but as "symbols that transcend boundaries and differences." The symbols placed on top of them are simple, everyday shapes that are familiar to everyone, yet invite infinite interpretation through combination and arrangement. Playful yet combining universality and abstraction, the work resonates with the spirit of Fluxus, the avant-garde art movement to which Ay-O belonged.

Unlike the standard numbered edition intended for public sale, H.C. impressions were typically printed in limited quantities for the artist, publisher, or collaborators and were not part of the regular commercial release. As such, H.C. prints are generally considered more scarce and are highly appreciated by collectors of original printmaking.

Ay-O is internationally acclaimed as one of Japan's leading postwar contemporary artists, and his works are housed in major museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. His rainbow series, symbolizing the "enveloping sense of happiness" and "universal human solidarity," continues to fascinate many people today.

This work, with its vibrant rainbow colors and free-spirited linework resonating with each other, embodies Ay-O's creative genius. A worthy addition to any collection, it showcases the legacy of one of Japan's leading avant-garde artists of the 20th century.

◆About Ay-O(靉嘔)◆

Real name: Takao Iijima, born May 19, 1931, in Ibaraki Prefecture.

After graduating from the Department of Art, Faculty of Education, Tokyo University of Education (now the University of Tsukuba), he joined the Democratic Artists Association in 1953. He moved to the United States in 1958, where he encountered and joined the Fluxus movement.

International Exhibitions:

1966: Exhibited as a representative artist at the Venice Biennale

1970: Received the Tokyo Prize at the 7th Tokyo International Print Biennale for "Rainbow Hokusai"

1971: Exhibited at the São Paulo Biennale (received the Banco do Brasil Prize)

1971: Received the Minister of Foreign Affairs' Award (New York Japanese Art Exhibition)

1995: Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon (from the Japanese government)

2005: Received the Order of the Rising Sun

2023–24: Large-scale retrospectives at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art ("Happy Rainbow Hell") and M+ in Hong Kong ("Ay-O: Hong Hong Hong")

[Size]
53×69 cm

[Condition]
Excellent condition

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