TEFAF

Established in 1988, TEFAF is widely regarded as the world’s pre-eminent organization of fine art, antiques, and design. TEFAF runs three Fairs internationally - TEFAF Maastricht, which covers 7,000 years of art history; TEFAF New York Spring, focused on modern and contemporary art & design; and TEFAF New York Fall, covering fine and decorative art from antiquity to 1920. TEFAF champions the finest quality art from across the ages by creating a community of the world’s top art dealers and experts to inspire lovers and buyers of art everywhere.

Shozo Shimamoto first conceived of this painting, titled Shibu (“Quietness”), as a hole work, created by breaking through layers of glued newspaper. Four years later, following an encounter with French art critic Michel Tapié, as well as Shimamoto’s new interest in art informel, the artist picked up this work to transform it into an
“informel” work. The painting can therefore be seen as one of Shimamoto’s most transitional works, resulting in a Tapié-inspired style focusing on the matter and the rough surface, while still referring to the early hole experiments with punched newspapers.