5．Death and resurrection: 1974–1996 (age 69–91)
After developing his own abstract world, the artist was hit by calamity, the deaths of his sons Fumio and Norio in quick succession. The predominant colour of Tatsuoki’s paintings shifted to blue, calling to mind the sea that had claimed Fumio. “When I’m painting, I feel as though I’m back with my sons” explained the despondent father. Eventually, he would come through this sad period, and as can be seen in Record of Life, a large work executed in 1993/94, he achieved a distinctive mood that conveyed serene, lucid scenery from within his mind, imbued with a deep spirituality. The oil paintings in this section give glimpses at both the artist’s anguish and his recovery.
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