上前 智祐
Chiyu UEMAE

Selected Works

 Untitled
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Copperplate Print
60×41cm / Image size, 76×52.5cm / Paper size
12号, ED 2/15
2002
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Copperplate Print
60×41cm / Image size, 74.5×52.5cm / Paper size
12号, ED 1/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
60×41cm / Image size, 72.5×51.3cm / Paper size
12号, ED 1/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
70.5×36cm / Image size, 86.5×52cm / Paper size
20号, ED 5/5
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
70.5×36cm / Image size, 86.5×52cm / Paper size
20号, ED 5/6
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
70.5×36cm / Image size, 86.5×52cm / Paper size
20号, ED 5/5
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
70.5×36cm / Image size, 86.5×52cm / Paper size
20号, ED 5/5
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
70.5×36cm / Image size, 86.5×52cm / Paper size
20号, ED 4/6
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
60×41cm / Image size, 75.4×52.5cm / Paper size
12号, ED 2/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
47.5×36cm / Image size, 63.5×47.8 cm / Paper size
8号, ED 4/10
2010
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
52×36cm / Image size, 69.4×50.2cm / Paper size
10号, ED 3/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
52×36cm / Image size, 69.6×50cm / Paper size
10号, ED 5/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
44×36cm / Image size, 59.5×48cm / Paper size
8号, ED 5/6
2010
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
55×30cm / Image size, 68.5×44.5cm / Paper size
10号, ED 6/6
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
51.5×42cm / Image size, 67.4×51.8cm / Paper size
10号, ED 5/5
2007
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
36×51cm / Image size, 51.5×70.5cm / Paper size
10号, ED 2/15
2002
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
44×29.5cm / Image size, 65×48cm / Paper size
8号, ED 6/20
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
44×29.5cm / Image size, 65×47.8cm / Paper size
8号, ED 1/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
53×36cm / Image size, 72.3×50.7cm / Paper size
10号
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
56.5×36cm / Image size, 72.8×50cm / Paper size
10号, ED 5/5
2007
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
70.5×36cm / Image size, 86.7×52cm / Paper size
20号, ED 4/6
2011
Untitled
Untitled
Chiyu UEMAE
铜版画 Copperplate Print
56×35.5cm / Image size, 72.6×49.6cm / Paper size
10号, ED 5/5
2007
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
56×35.5cm / Image size, 70.6×49.6cm / Paper size
10号, ED 2/15
2001
Untitled
Untitled
Copperplate Print
36×52cm / Image size, 50.8×69.6cm / Paper size
10号, ED 4/10
2004

Bio

Chiyu Uemae was born in Kyoto prefecture, Japan in 1920. Chiyu Uemae’s career began with his involvement in the Gutai Group, which was founded by his hard-won mentor Jiro Yoshihara (the founder of the avant-garde Gutai group). In 1953, Uemae meets Yoshihara, since then, the artist takes part in every Gutai exhibition until its dissolution. Uemae, unlike many of his Gutai peers, is not known for using action as the basis of his mixed-media works.

Prior to joining the Gutai, Uemae had studied Nanga and western movements, but believes his most formative experience was an apprenticeship in Kyozome or the Kyoto style of dyeing. Because of this training, as well as a childhood immersed in non-figurative design, the practice of sewing became paramount to Uemae’s mature style. His mixed-media paintings sometimes feature textile elements, but are characteristically identified by his careful compositions comprised of fine dots or patterns. Chiyu Uemae’s wide-ranging creations from two-dimensional works which are composed of pattern accumulation by painting knives or of sensitive stitches to sculptural works made of cloth or wood or sawdust. He remains active in his 80s and 90s, still producing etchings and silkscreens.

Uemae participated in several historical Gutai exhibitions including the International Art of a New Era: Gutai and Informel exhibition; Gutai Art Exhibition in New York, Martha Jackson Gallery (1958); The Continuité et Avant-garde au Japon, International Centre of Aesthetic Research, Turin, Italy (1961); Groupe Gutai, Galerie Stadler, Paris (1965); NUL 1966 Art Exhibition, Netherlands (1966); Gutai Art Exhibition at Expo70, Osaka (1970). And recently his works were included the exhibitions; GUTAI: The Spirit of an Era, the National Art Center, Tokyo (2012); Destroying the Picture – Painting the Void 1949-1962, Los Angeles MOCA(2012); GUTAI: Splendid Playground, the Guggenheim Museum, New York(2013); Parallel Views: Italian and Japanese Art from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, The Warehouse, Dallas(2014).

 

About Gutai Art

The Gutai Art Association is an art group formed in 1954 by a group of young artists living in the Kansai region led by Yoshihara Jiro. The name “Guai” means “Concrete proves that our spirit is free”. In 1955, Yoshihara began to publish Japanese and English bilingual “Gutai” magazine. In 1956, Yoshihara published the Gutai Art Manifesto, which defined the Gutai School and expounded the brand-new connection between mind, body and matter in art. “Spirit” is considered to be unique to each person and an abstract entity, so founder Yoshihara asked the group’s members to make art that was different from the past, and that these expressions had to be abstract. He also organizes exhibitions, presenting their work in parks, on stage and in the air, hoping to inspire them to generate new ideas within existing artistic frameworks.

Gutai was widely recognized in the Western art world in the late 1950s. More recently, the National Art Center in Tokyo (2012) and the Guggenheim Museum in New York (2013) have showcased their challenging zeitgeist and creative energy for the Gutai Art and its artists.

  • 1920 Born in Kyoto Prefecture
    1932-1938 Apprenticed to Kyoto Dyeing orchestrator, also to banner-dyeing shop to learn the usage of resist paste. Self-educated illustrating, portrait painting, the southern school of Chinese Painting
  • Major Exhibitions

    2019 Chiyu Uemae retrospective exhibition, Whitestone Gallery, Ginza Japan
    2018 TEFAF TWENTY, Fergus McCaffrey, NewYork USA
    2017 Gutai & The Japanese Avant-Garde: Small Painting and Drawings 1958-1996, W. Alxander, Brooklyn USA
    Impasto: The Gestural and Sensuous in Japanese Abstract Paintings, SAKURADO FINE ARTS, Tokyo Japan
    Gutai Spirit, H.ARTS COLLECTIVE, Singapore
    2016 Gutai: Selected Small Works, Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong China
    Gallery Collection: GUTAI Group Show, Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong China
    2015 Exhibition “Chiyu Uemae- A Solitary Path”, Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong China
    Gallery Collection, Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong China
    gutai, de Sarthe Gallery, Hong Kong China
    2014 Exhibition “Gutaijin in Karuizawa”, Karuizawa New Art Museum, Karuizawa Japan
    2013 Exhibition “GUTAI: Splendid Playground,” at The Guggenheim Museum, NewYork USA
    Chiyu Uemae Special Exhibition at The Armory Show Modern 2013, Pier 92 (Booth 454), NewYork USA
    2012 Exhibition “Wind of Karuizawa” – 19 Uemae works, at Karuizawa New Art Museum, Karuizawa Japan
    Exhibition “GUTAI: The Spirit of an Era,” at The National Art Center, Tokyo Japan
    Exhibition “Destroying the Picture – Painting the Void: 1949-1962,” at Los Angeles MOCA, Los Angeles USA
    Chiyu Uemae Special Exhibition at Los Angeles Art Platform 2012,Los Angeles USA
    The Solo Exhibition “Chiyu Uemae – Jigado”, at BB Plaza Museum of Art, Kobe Japan
    2011 Exhibition “Chiyu Uemae,”, Galllery LADS, Osaka Japan
    2010 Exhibition “Chiyu Uemae,”, Miyazaki Prefectural Art Museum, Miyazaki Prefectural Japan
    2009 Exhibition “Museum Collection 2009-1,” Tokushima Modern Art Museum, Tokushima Japan
    2008 Exhibition “Gutai to Contemporary”, Gallery LADS, Osaka Japan
    Exhibition “GUTAI and after”, DOKA Contemporary Arts, Tokyo Japan
    Exhibition of 3 Artists, Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Mie Japan
    Exhibition “Dots Talk : UEMAE Chiyu, YAMANAKA Yoshikazu, TSUBOTA Masahiko,” at Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama Japan
    2007 Exhibition of New Prints, Gallery LADS, Osaka Japan
    Collection of The National Museum of Art, Osaka Japan
    2006 Exhibition “World of Chiyu Uemae”, CASO Museum, Osaka Japan
    2005 Exhibition “Chiyu Uemae and GUTAI Art Association”, Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka Japan
    2004 ‘GUTAI 1954-1972’, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art,  Kobe Japan
    ‘Traces: Body and Idea in Contemporary Art’, Japan National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto Japan (Travelling Exhibition)
    2002 Solo exhibition: Print (silkscreen), LADS Gallery, Osaka Japan
    Solo exhibition: Print (etching), Gallery MAYA, Takatsuki Japan
    2001 Solo exhibition of Print works, Gallery 1100, New York USA
    Solo exhibition of Stitch, Civic Craft Center, Itami Japan
    Solo exhibition of Print, Gallery Kuranuki, Osaka Japan
    2000 Solo exhibition for the memory of “Kobekko Award: Dark-blue Ribbon Medal, Cultural Achievement Award from the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe Japan
    1999 Gutai Exhibition in Paris, Galerie Nationale du jeu de Paume, Paris France
    solo exhibition, Osaka Japan (61 works went to Osaka Prefectural Public Collection after hold by the prefecture)
    Solo exhibition, Maizuru Municipal Administration Memorial Museum planned,  Komei Shimizu Japan
    1997 Contemporary Stitch Japan Style, Montclair State University, USA
    1996 The Year of Avant-Garde Artists: Change and Continuity, Itabashi Art Museum, Tokyo Japan
    1995 Publication at author’s own expense “Koritsu no Michi”, Collected works: An Independent Path
    1991 Avant-Garde Japan: The Gutai Group in 1950s , Rome National Museum of Modern Art, Rome Italy
    1989 Maboroshi no Yamamura Collection exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Kobe Japan
    1985 The Exhibition of the Storm of Painting in 1950-60: Informel/Gutai/Cobra, The National Museum of Art, Osaka Japan
    Publication at author’s own expense “Jigado”, Personal Artistic Way
    1983 Solo exhibition “Ink Painting” and “Print-works”, Contemporary Art Center, Osaka Japan
    1982 Solo exhibition “Oil painting and Stitch”, Contemporary Art Center, Osaka Japan
    1976 Since around this year began producing stitching art Participated in Ge Exhibition, withdrew in 2002
    1970 Gutai Art Exhibition, Expo’70-Midori-kan Entrance Hall,Osaka Japan
    1966 Second International Art Exhibition in Lausanne, Switzerland (major work 162×130 cm was purchased)
    1958 World Exhibition of New Art (given favourable comment by Mr. Michel Tapie), Gutai Art Exhibition, New York USA
    1954 Participated in the formation of the Gutai Art Association (dissolved in 1972)
    1953 Study under Jiro Yoshihara
    1951 First Solo Exhibition
    1947 Sent works to 1st Niki Group Exhibition
  • COLLECTIONS

    Ashiya City Museum of Art & History 
    Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art 
    Osaka Contemporary Art Center 
    Osaka Municipal Museum of Modern Art 
    The National Museum of Art, Osaka 
    Itabashi Art Museum 
    Niigata Art Museum 
    Fukuoka Art Museum 
    Kitakyushu Art Museum 
    International Print Museum in Machida, Tokyo Municipal Administration Memorial of Maizuru City Musée d’art 
    modern et contemporain, Toulouse (France) The Miyagi Museum of Art 
    Chiba City Museum of Art 
    Nerima Art Museum 
    Yokohama Museum of Art 
    The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama 
    Old Hyogo Prefectural Office Building 
    Fukui Fine Art Museum 
    The Tokushima Modern Art Museum 
    The Rachofsky Collection, Dallas, Texas

Exhibitions

Texts