SUMI YASUO

• SUMI YASUO, Japanese abstract painter, born in Osaka. After graduating from university, he worked as an art instructor at several universities. In 1954, he became acquainted with YOSHIHARA JIRO, and later studied painting from him. In 1955, he joined the Gutai Art Association. Major collections: The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Roma, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka.

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  • YOSHIHARA JIRO

    YOSHIHARA JIRO is a Japanese abstract painter and businessman. In 1954, he founded the Gutai Art Association, the leading artistic movement in the postwar Kansai region. The following year, he held the first exhibition, and until 1968, he held 21 exhibitions of Gutai art not only in Japan but also in New York and Turin, becoming a part of the international art movement. He often said not to inherit modern paintings or imitate others, but create something that no one has ever done before." His philosophy led to the creation of many artists, including SHIRAGA KAZUO and MOTONAGA SADAMASA. He is best known for his works featuring circles, such as large white circles painted on a black background. Major Collections: National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama, Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Ohara Museum of Art, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

  • 戶泉惠德

  • 大嶽有一

  • TAKASAKI MOTONAO

    TAKASAKI MOTONAO, Japanese artist. He won the Newcomer's Prize at the 4th Modern Art Association Exhibition in 1954. Sympathising with the works of YOSHIHARA JIRO, SHIRAGA KAZUO and MOTONAGA SADAMASA, he became a member of the Gutai Art Association in 1966 and participated until its dissolution in 1972. Major collections: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art.

  • NASAKA SENKICHIRO

    NASAKA SENKICHIRO, Japanese painter born in Osaka, classmate of Shiraga Kazuo at the Kyoto Municipal School of Painting (now Kyoto City University of Arts) in 1942. In 1950, he was selected for the All Kansai Exhibition. He majored in Japanese- style painting but switched to Western-style painting in the 1960s. In 1965 exhibited at the 15th Gutai Art Exhibition, becoming a member of the Gutai Art Association. When he joined the Gutai, he produced paintings with a strong influence of the Unformel style, but gradually changed to a style that made full use of technology, including kinetic art, and became a representative artist of the late Gutai trend.