The Gutai Art Association was a Japanese post-war avant-garde art movement that emerged in the 1950s.

The group’s work was heavily influenced by Western artists like Jackson Pollock and Jean Dubuffet, as well as traditional Japanese art forms such as calligraphy, ink painting and sumi-e (black ink).

The Gutai artists were interested in exploring new ways of making art through experimentation with materials and techniques.

They also wanted to challenge traditional notions of what constitutes “art” by incorporating everyday objects into their work–something they called “Gutaiism.”

Origins of the Gutai Art Association

The Gutai Art Association was founded in 1954 by a group of artists who wanted to create a new art movement that would be different from Western modernism.

The name “Gutai” comes from an ancient Japanese word meaning “to jump.”


The movement was influenced by many different things: the traditional Japanese arts of calligraphy, painting and sculpture;

Zen Buddhism; and Western abstract expressionism (in particular Jackson Pollock).

The early exhibitions were held in small galleries or even private homes because there were no public spaces available at this time in history when Japan was still rebuilding itself after World War II had ended only 10 years earlier.

Characteristics Of The Gutai Art Association

The Gutai Art Association was a Japanese avant-garde movement that emphasized experimentation, use of everyday materials and rejection of traditional art forms.

The group was founded in 1954 by a group of artists led by Jiro Yoshihara (1928-2011).

The name “Gutai” means “nude” or “bare”, which reflects the group’s emphasis on exposing their bodies as part of their artwork.

Their work often involved performance art that explored themes like sexuality, violence and death.

Notable Members Of The Gutai Art Association

The Gutai Art Association was founded in 1954 by Jiro Yoshihara, who was a painter and sculptor.

He began his career as an artist after studying at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.

   

His work focused on abstract expressionism, which is evident in his paintings such as “Yellow Sun,” “Blue Sky,” and “Green Tree.”

Other notable members of the Gutai Art Association include Sadamasa Motonaga (1929-2012), Shozo Shimamoto (1930-2017), Atsuko Tanaka (born 1937).

Influence of the Gutai Art Association

The Gutai Art Association was a group of artists who were interested in breaking the conventions of traditional Japanese art.

This movement was founded by Jiro Yoshihara and Kiyoshi Takayama, and it had a huge impact on both Japanese post-war art and Western contemporary art.

 

The Gutai artists were interested in exploring new materials, techniques and forms of expression.

They used everyday objects such as balloons or paintbrushes instead of traditional paints or brushes to create their works;

they also used their bodies as part of their creations (for example by painting themselves).

The main idea behind this movement was that anything could be used as an artistic medium if the artist felt like using it!

Legacy of the Gutai Art Association

Gutai Art Museum

The museum is located in Niiharu, Japan and houses over 1,000 pieces of art created by members of the Gutai Art Association.

It was founded in 1967 by former member Jiro Yoshihara and has since become a popular tourist destination with over 200,000 visitors annually.

The museum also hosts an annual summer festival that celebrates avant-garde art and culture through performances, exhibitions, workshops and more!

International Recognition

Gutai has been recognized as one of the most influential post-war movements in contemporary art history due to its groundbreaking techniques and experimentation with materials such as paint on canvas or paper (instead of traditional ink),

plastics such as vinyl chloride which were used for sculptures instead of clay or bronze casting methods.

The Gutai Art Association – Wrap Up

Gutai’s lasting impact on art includes the following:

   

The movement is considered a precursor to postmodernism.

Gutai artists’ use of materials like clay, water, fire and ice helped bring about Conceptual Art.

Gutai’s use of everyday objects as art has influenced many contemporary artists working today.