Gutai
Japanese avant-garde group formed in 1954 in Osaka by Yoshihara Jiro, Shimamoto Shozo, and joined by
Shiraga Kazuo, Tanaka Atsuko. For the introduction of the first exhibition, Yoshihara wrote;
”Whether this is art or not, it does not seem to matter” to manifest this radical art movement.
In fact, the wilde perfomances by Shiraga who challenged himself half naked in a pile of mud and
Murakami who ran through the paper screens, became known to overseas as a link to Informel
movement of the period. Gutai is considered as one of the most important moments of post-war
Japanese culture. Other members are Nsaka Yuko, Takasaki Motonao and others. As it was radical,
its lifespan was short and the Gutai Art Association dissolved in 1972 following the death of Yoshihara,
yet it had actually survived till 1958 when the last group exhibition was held for the second time.
In 1994, there was a retrospective exhibition at Pompidou Centre and the Gutai movement is considered
as the representative art movement of Japan after 1945.
In the 21st century, Gutai movement is newly evaluated and many exhibition are held all over world.
1938 Born in Osaka
1959 Graduated from Shoin Women’s University
1962 Awarded the 15th Ashiya City Exhibition, Mayor prize and the 15th memorial
1962 She studied under Yoshihara Jiro
1963 She became a member of Gutai
1964 Solo exhibition at the Gutai Pinakothek
1965 Awarded the Honourable Mention in the 9th Shell Art
1987 Awarded the IBM Painting and Illustration Concours
Nasaka is an artist who connects to the global movement of informel painting, and the
Gutai group, which promptly appeared in the internationally open context of a post-war
Japan. Part of Gutai’s second generation, she was an artist who breathed new life into
the group. A work consisting of repeated concentric circles, in relief, created with resin
and aluminium, and other such new industrial materials.
Even amongst other Gutai artists, the spatial composition of Nasaka’s work in paticular
gave one a sense of openness, with an Asian sensibility. She is widely considered an
artist who represents Gutai’s middle period.