Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Mieko Shiomi. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1968, this offset lithograph by Japanese artist Mieko Shiomi is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work is untitled and presented as a printed sheet that functions visually as a game board.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a labyrinthine course populated by stylized runners. A central blue cube contains a figure, while directional arrows marked “Return,” “Right,” and “Left” suggest possible moves. Small illustrations of participants at the margins, some bearing flags, reinforce the notion of a competitive race through a maze.
Technique & Style
Produced by offset lithography, the print combines flat areas of color with crisp line work, typical of mid‑century graphic design. The graphic language—simple symbols, bold arrows, and schematic figures—creates a clear, instructional aesthetic reminiscent of board‑game manuals.
History & Provenance
Shiomi, active in the 1960s avant‑garde scene, executed the piece in Japan before it entered the MoMA collection. The museum acquired the work as part of its effort to document experimental print media and participatory art practices of the period.
Context
The lithograph reflects the era’s interest in interactive, game‑based art, aligning with Fluxus and other participatory movements that blurred the line between artwork and play. Its instructional format invites viewers to imagine the rules of a race, echoing broader explorations of chance and decision‑making in the late 1960s.
Artist & collection
