KAWABATA MINORU

• KAWABATA MINORU, born in Tokyo in 1911. In 1953, he co-founded the Japan Abstract Art Club with YOSHIHARA JIRO and YAMAGUCHI TAKEO. In 1956, he participated in Exposition Internationale de l'Art Actuel, driven by MICHEL TAPIÉ, alongside artists like DUBUFFET and DE KOONING, representing Japan.In 1958, he moved to New York, and in the following year, he participated in the 2nd Guggenheim International Exhibition, showcasing his artwork "Rhythm - Tea" and receiving the individual Honorable Mention award. Subsequently, he signed with the Betty Parsons Gallery, renowned for promoting prominent post-war abstract expressionist artists like JACKSON POLLOCK and MARK ROTHKO. This marked KAWABATA's entry into the mainstream of New York artists. At the same time, he co-organized exhibitions with Japanese artists who had also moved to the United States, such as KUSAMA YAYOI and OKADA KENZO. In 1962, he exhibited six works at the 31st Venice Biennale. In 1974, he held a solo exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art in New York, followed by a large-scale exhibition at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art the following year. He continued to create his work in both Japan and the United States, establishing himself as one of the representative Japanese artists of the post-World War II era. His artistic style began with abstract expressionism in the 1950s. Shortly after moving to the United States, he awakened to calligraphic techniques, resulting in unique brushwork and the incorporation of multiple colors into his works. This showcased his exploration of a new spiritual realm through art. Throughout his career, he consistently worked to crystallize his own psychological experiences into visual elements on canvas. His rich use of color, emerging forms, and striking contrasts left a highly emotional impression, expressing his unique inner world through abstract colors.

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