Yuko Nasaka

Nasaka was one of the few female artists associated with the Gutai group. Like other members of the group, she placed a great emphasis on the process of making an artwork. For this work, she placed each plaster panel onto a mechanical turntable inspired by a potter’s wheel. As it rotated, she carved patterns into the material using a palette knife. The recurring image of the circle suggests a timeless sense of harmony, while the dark-blue silver lacquer that she applied afterwards conveys a more industrial quality.