Born 1931, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

           Ay-O was a prominent member of Fluxus, a group that originated in New York and was part of an international network characterized by multidisciplinary works.  With a DIY aesthetic that prioritized simplicity over complexity, Fluxus artists stressed their personality, actions and opinions.  Ay-O’s preoccupation with the senses inspired him to create tactile environments or ‘atmosphere art’ works, which were sculptures that imposed themselves within the physical environment of the viewer.  An example of this can be seen in his signature ‘finger boxes’, which invited viewers to stick their fingers into them.  Many of his installations or sculptural works can today be accessed through re-constructions.

“Fluxus works are potentially the most integrated into life, the most social – or sometimes, anti-social, the obverse of the same coin – and the most ephemeral” Clive Phillpot (In ‘Fluxus: Magazines, Manifestos, Multum in Parvo)