YUTAKA MATSUDA YUTAKA MATSUDA

YUTAKA MATSUDA

YUTAKA MATSUDA
YUTAKA MATSUDA

Yutaka Matsuda was a member of the influential postwar Japanese Gutai group and a pioneer of kinetic art. As a member of Gutai’s youngest generation, Matsuda expressed art through diverse forms. However, through his drawings and sculptures of mechanic devices, his kinetic artworks became particularly notable among the later Gutai members.

Matsuda presents most of his drawings in simple colours and shapes but mounts a precise mechanical construction in constant operation on the back of his works – a functioning motor, complex circuits and wires are concealed behind it. Objects move around seemingly monotonously and gracefully, inciting the viewer’s subconscious to be intrigued by those motions, vibrations, and colours. With a desire to explore new methods and materials, an emphasis on the close relationship between creative media and the body, and the pursuit of originality, Matsuda’s art style fitted well with the new trends in the Japanese art scene. In 1984, Matsuda opened his private art school Bunsei Dojo Gallery Do in Namba (Osaka) and contributed to expanding a wide range of educational activities.

 

ABOUT GUTAI »

ARTWORKS

NEWS

50 Years Since the End | The Gutai Art Association as seen at the National Museum of Art, Osaka

January 4, 2023
ART NEWS

50 Years Since the End | The Gutai Art Association Revives at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

December 27, 2022
ART NEWS

ARTICLES

“Into the Unknown World — GUTAI: Differentiation and Integration” at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art and the National Museum of Art

October 19, 2022
Osaka, Japan

Yutaka Matsuda, an Artist and an Educator
GUTAI STILL ALIVE 2015 vol.1
35/35
Japanese Kinetic Art Pioneer Yutaka Matsuda and his Paris Adventure
GUTAI STILL ALIVE 2015 vol.1
34/35
Art Historian Kunio Motoe’s Take On the “Gutai Art Association”
GUTAI STILL ALIVE 2015 vol.1
01/35

IMAGES

BYU-PA, 1976
PATTERN-line 88, 1988
1998
Untitled, 1988
Untitled 50-B, 1996
Untitled

BIOGRAPHY

1942
Born in Sumiyoshi district, Osaka.
1963
Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Naniwa College (later renamed to Osaka University of Arts Junior College). Matsuda often showed his Kinetic artworks, at the gallery Ano where was located in the neighborhood of the Gutai Pinacotheca. In this year, Matsuda met Jiro Yoshihara.
1964
Solo Exhibition was held at gallery Ano.
1966
At the 19th Ashiya City Art Exhibition (Ashiya Civic Center), Matsuda received the mayor award. He also received an honorable mention at the 10th Shell Art Competition (Shirakiya, Tokyo). In the same year, his work was included in the 17th Gutai Art Exhibition (Takashimaya Department Store 8th Floor Hall, Yokohama). Hereafter, Matsuda involved his work in the consequence Gutai Art Exhibitions until the break-up of the group.
1967
Exhibition New Face of Gutai (held at the Gutai Pinacotheca, Osaka). Received second prize at the 2nd Mainichi Art Competition (Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art). Became a member of the Gutai group. (remained until dissolution of the group).
1968
Received the Nagaoka Museum of Contemporary Art Prize at the 8th Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum). Married Masako Okamoto who was Matsuda's classmate from Naniwa College. Received a board of Education Award at the 21st Ashiya City Art Exhibition (Ashiya Civic Center). Became a member of Ashiya City Art Association.
1970
Participated in the Japan Expo' 70 for the Gutai's collective installation Garden on Garden and the Gutai Group Exhibition (Midorikan Entrance Hall).
1972
The Gutai group disbanded. From then, Matsuda began making kinetic artworks with more complexity.
1982
Solo Exhibition was held at Atelier Nishinomiya.
1984
Founded Bunsei Dojo: Gallery Do (Namba, Osaka). The facility had an art class and tutoring class in addition to a gallery space.
1986
Became a member of the Sculpture Session of the Sakai Art Association.
1987
Became a member of the Osaka Sculpture Council.
1988
Solo Exhibition World of Yutaka Matsuda: Part I,II,III (Gallery Do)
1989
Received a prize for excellence at the '89 IBM Picture and Illustration Concour (ABC gallery, Osaka) and the Best Work prize at the Exhibition of Wakayama Grand Prix of Western Painting 100.
1990
Received a prize for excellence at the 12th Exhibition of Modern Best Art in 1990. (Emba Museum of Chinese Modern Art).
1991
Solo Exhibition Yutaka Matsuda: Kinetic Art Exhibition (ABC gallery)
1998
Suddenly died due to liver cancer.
2004
Exhibition Gutai Retrospective: 50 years Anniversary (Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art)
2012
Exhibition Gutai: The Spirit of an Era (The National Art Center, Tokyo).
2013
Exhibition Gutai: Splendid Playground at the Guggenheim Museum (NewYork).

 

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