T. I. F. Stories
By Tatsumi Shinoda (Selection Director for Tokyo International Forum Artwork)
Artworks Gathered in "Ship of Diversity" 14
Richmond Burton
White stripe resembling obsidian. This black painting spices up the surrounding wall. At the upper edge of the painting, the curved black stripe areas are repeated.
If you are familiar with modern paintings, it is clear that this painting was based on "Black Painting," a well known work of Frank Stella. I don't envisage it as anything else, but the painter did so intentionally.
Stella's painting is black stripes bending vertically along the edge. Straight lines are consistent by the width of the brush. Cracked white lines are left. By clearly basing this painting, which is said to be a masterpiece of modernism paintings, we can understand that Burton's paintings are works in the peak age of copying and quoting culture.
Here, Burton's own painting is important. While Stella vertically bended stripes, Burton is expressing curved stripes which look like a combination of sharp mountains. In addition, cross-sections of 5 small square wooden panels are attached.
With these squares, the painting seems to be hiding something. If something is hung out to dry, it becomes more familiar and individuality is displayed. However, I'm not very sure about it. I was torn between thoughts of an international masterpiece and individuality to hang something out.
There are well known values and private values. Or, there is a brand and individual desire. I encountered a painting in which these two extremes are included in the age of the bubble economy in the 1980s.
Art leads the public for 5 to 10 years. I was planning to make a collection for the Tokyo International Forum with a span of 15 years focusing on the works of the 1980s. I decided to collect Burton's works as he is a painter who can realize the concept of the collection.
On my way back, after seeing the painting at a gallery in New York, I recalled what my acquaintance mentioned there.
"Don't think that New York is a part of the U.S. This is an international city. Real America is in rural areas."
Burton is international and American, I thought this way at that time.
| Location: Lounge on 4F, D Block |
Photo: Sadamu Saito
"Ship of Diversity" = Artwork Collection Concept of the Tokyo International Forum
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