Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Mieko Shiomi. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966, this offset lithograph by Japanese artist Mieko Shiomi is catalogued under the title Untitled and belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work consists of stark black lines on a white field, forming abstracted map-like configurations that juxtapose European and Japanese geographic outlines with radiating circular motifs.
Subject & Meaning
The composition replaces conventional cartographic details with large circles from which linear rays emanate, some containing miniature compass symbols. These elements are positioned in locations that do not correspond to actual places, suggesting a coded or speculative geography that invites viewers to contemplate notions of orientation, direction, and the abstraction of spatial information.
Technique & Style
Executed as an offset lithograph, the piece employs the precision of printmaking to render crisp, uniform lines and solid black shapes. The minimalist palette and geometric rigor reflect Shiomi’s interest in systems and visual language, while the repetitive circular forms create a rhythmic visual code across the paper’s surface.
History & Provenance
Mieko Shiomi produced the work during a period of heightened experimental print activity in the mid‑1960s. After its creation, the lithograph entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of post‑war Japanese avant‑garde prints.
Artist & collection
