As an iconic figure in “Gutai,” the most important art movement of post-war Japan, Atsuko Tanaka used Gutai’s emphasis on the intrinsic nature of objects as a starting point to hone in on the “connection” between tangible and intangible objects, achieving a creative system that responded to the ebb and flow of the era. As a woman who was able to stand out in the predominantly androcentric art scene of 20th century Japan and gained worldwide attention, her talents and significance shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Born in Osaka, Japan in 1932, Atsuko Tanaka grew up and completed her art education in this ideologically advanced city. It was also in Osaka where Jiro Yoshihara announced the Gutai declaration in 1954, beginning the glory days of the pioneering art movement of post-war Japan. Her works have been exhibited in numerous important museums including Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, Grey Art Gallery, New York University. Her remarkable work, “Electric Dress” was exhibited along the other works at Documenta 12 in Kassel in 2007. Her retrospective had been held at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in 2012.
Artworks
Atsuko TANAKA 田中敦子