Celebration 1967

Kazuo Shiraga’s painting titled Celebration is rendered in thick, visceral strokes of red and yellow oil paint. Its dominant color, red, is the color of lifeblood, carrying with it connotations of passion, energy, and raw emotion. Notice how this motif echoes through history, from the ancient Roman use of red in triumphs and celebrations, to its appearance in religious art symbolizing sacrifice and divine love. In Shiraga’s hands, the red takes on a new urgency. It evokes a sense of primal energy, the kind that stirs deep within our collective memory. The swirling application of paint hints at an uncontrolled fervor, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, stirring within us the echoes of ancient rituals and visceral responses. This painting speaks to the cyclical, non-linear progression of symbols, reminding us that the past is always present, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in our ever-changing world.