A pioneer of post-war Japanese art, Jiro Yoshihara is widely recognized as the founder of the avant-garde Gutai group, which was active from 1954 until his death in 1972. Inspired by Yoshihara’s mandate “studies the human movement, remains true to the material and explores the undiscovered beauty”, the Gutai artists created original artworks that emphasized gesture and properties of matters. Starting in the 1960s, Yoshihara developed a style of action painting inspired by Japanese “Enso” calligraphy and Zen philosophy as well as Western abstraction, he tried myriad variations on the circle, whose simplicity and ubiquity he believed provided infinite possibilities for artistic expression.
Yoshihara’s work has been exhibited throughout his native Japan and at museums around the world, including MoMA in NYC and the Guggenheim.
1905 | Born in Osaka, Japan |
1917 | He studied oil painting systematically in middle school and graduated from the Advanced Business of Kwansei Gakuin University. |
1928 | When he went to France to study, he held his first solo exhibition. While studying abroad, he was instructed by the famous Japanese painter Tsuguharu Foujita in Paris, |
1934 | At the ecommendation of Tsuguharu Foujita, Yoshihara’s works were selected for the first time at the 21st Second Science Exhibition in Japan |
1938 | He joined the Nine Room, which was founded by avant-garde artists of the Second Branch Society. |
1952 | Joined the Modern Art Symposium as an Officer |
1954 | Yoshihara founded the ” Gutai Art Association” in his hometown of Osaka’s Ashiya, the first avant-garde art group after the war. Yoshihara chose the word ” Gutai ” for this painting faction. It was hoped that it could be distinguished from the “modernism” represented by the abstract art prevailing inJapan at that time, to emphasize the “physicality” and “materiality” of this artistic form. As the group’s founder, spiritual mentor and patron, he led 17 artists who are ambitiousand forward-looking in the arts to create Gutai art associations. The associationlasted18 years and had two generations of members until Yoshihara died at the age of 67andended in 1972 with a total of 59 members. |
1955 | Start to Publish Japanese and English magazines with the name of “Gutai ” Improvised white cement as a painting at the first Gutai art exhibition, followed by a study of line elements and calligraphy ink. Promoted the first participation of the Gutai “Light Art” in the summer outdoor exhibition and continued to extend the concept to the interactive art show “Please Draw AsYou Like” at theoutdoor exhibition in 1956. |
1956 | The Declaration of Gutai Art, defining a new connection between spirit, body andmaterial in art. |
1957 | “The Gutai Art on stage”, he expressed the concept of “nothing” by the dramatic light effects of demonstrating on an empty stage. |
1958 | A series of intensely and plump abstract paintings were created, a black-and-white work was exhibited atMartha Jackson Gallery in New York, and then show on the Carnegie International Art Exhibition, which was eventually purchased by the Carnegie Art.Museum. |
1959 | Yoshihara wrote that ” Gutai Art Association are not the practice of Orientalism”. |
1960 | Yoshihara completely entered the creation of “circle” shape. Focus on drawing “circle”, and constantly pursue the meaning of ” circle “. Yoshihara began to use calligraphy and ink as a means of expression in sketching and oil painting. Yoshihara used advertising balloons and cooperated with Michel Tapi and successfully held the International Sky Art Festival . Tapi is The famouss French art critic and and leader of Informel . |
1962 | Gutai Art Museum Opened On the island called ” Gutaipinakoteka”of the headquarters of the Gutai Art Association, held an exhibition of members of the Gutai Art Association. |
1966 | Yoshihara’s works were on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, “NewJapanese Paintings and Sculptures” |
1970 | Yoshihara created the work- “Untitled” |
1971 | Yoshihara won the Gold Award for the Triennial International Award in India. |