Toshio Yoshida (1928-1997) was born in Kobe, Japan. As early as 1953 his works attracted attention, notably that of Jiro Yoshihara who would found the Gutai Art Association in 1954. Encouraged by Yoshihara to boldly explore creativity at the intersection of painting and performance, Yoshida was one of the great original thinkers and innovators of Gutai alongside Kazuo Shiraga, Sadamasa Motonaga, Atsuko Tanaka, Shozo Shimamoto, and Saburo Murakami.

The 1950s were particularly productive years for Yoshida. Not only did he create Red (1954), which includes a tied length of rope, Yoshida also created a series of Burn Paintings by searing and scarring plywood panels with a soldering iron or red hot coals. An example includes Sakuhin (...