Japanese artist Ushio Shinohara boxes his way to a knockout

SUNDANCE • The artist creates while in town for debut of documentary about his life.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The crowd cheers as Japanese artist Ushio Shinohara exults in front of the canvas art he created using paint and boxing gloves. Shinohara staged his presentation Jan. 21 at the Central Utah Art Center in downtown Salt Lake City following a screening of Zachary Heinzlering's Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer," which profiles Shinohara's art and 40-year marriage to his wife, Noriko.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The crowd cheers as Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, finishes his piece of art, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The crowd cheers as Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, checks out the piece of art he just finished, using boxing gloves dipped in paint, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, warms up before punching his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

THe crowd prepares to watch 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punch his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, changed into his painting shoes, before punching his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, pours paint before dipping his boxing gloves, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara with his art, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara is known for boxing his art onto a canvas, he is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara with his art, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara is known for boxing his art onto a canvas, he is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

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Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The crowd cheers as Japanese artist Ushio Shinohara exults in front of the canvas art he created using paint and boxing gloves. Shinohara staged his presentation Jan. 21 at the Central Utah Art Center in downtown Salt Lake City following a screening of Zachary Heinzlering's Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer," which profiles Shinohara's art and 40-year marriage to his wife, Noriko. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The crowd cheers as Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, finishes his piece of art, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The crowd cheers as Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, checks out the piece of art he just finished, using boxing gloves dipped in paint, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, warms up before punching his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune THe crowd prepares to watch 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punch his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, changed into his painting shoes, before punching his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, pours paint before dipping his boxing gloves, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara with his art, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara is known for boxing his art onto a canvas, he is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara with his art, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara is known for boxing his art onto a canvas, he is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer." Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune 81-year-old old Japanese artist, Ushio Shinohara, punches his art on to the canvas, with boxing gloves covered in sponges, at the Central Utah Art Center, Monday, January 21, 2013. Shinohara, is featured in the Sundance documentary film "Cutie and the Boxer."

· January 25, 2013 11:32 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sometimes the most colorful moments at the Sundance Film Festival happen off screen.

French painter Georges Seurat employed small, distinct dots of paint. Abstract expressionist bad-boy Jackson Pollock deployed the entropy of drip painting. Japanese artist Ushio Shinohara, Neo-Dadaist legend and subject of Sundance documentary "Cutie and the Boxer," scores his artistic knockouts on canvas with a good pair of gloves and all the color of a good fight.

The Tokyo-born artist has lived and worked in the United States since 1969, when a Rockefeller grant brought him to New York City. The 81-year-old Shinohara offered a staged creation of his work Jan. 21 before a rapt, ringside crowd at downtown Salt Lake City's Central Utah Art Center (175 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City) after a Sundance Film Festival screening of "Cutie and the Boxer" at the Broadway Centre Cinemas. Directed by Zachary Heinzerling, the world-premiere documentary was five years in the making. It explores the give-and-take in the painter's relationship with Noriko, his wife of 40 years.

Ben Fulton —

'Cutie and the Boxer'

The documentary about the Japanese painter Ushio Shinohara and his 40-year-marriage with his wife, Noriko, is screening in the U.S. Documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival.

Saturday, Jan. 26, noon • Egyptian Theatre, Park City

Need a ticket • Most screenings are sold out, so try hitting the box office at 8 a.m. to seek day-of release tickets (Trolley Square, 700 E. 600 South, Salt Lake City; Gateway Center, 138 Heber Ave., Park City; or Peery's Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden). Or get in the wait-list line at the theater two hours before the screening.

More Sundance news • http://www.sltrib.com/Blogs/sundanceblog

Also • See Rick Egan's photo gallery of the painting-in-progress at sltrib.com/entertainment.