JIRO YOSHIHARA JIRO YOSHIHARA

JIRO YOSHIHARA

JIRO YOSHIHARA
JIRO YOSHIHARA

Jiro Yoshihara was the founder and mentor of the Gutai Art Association, a Japanese post-war avant-garde group. Gutai pursued the way of innovative art by appealing directly to materiality itself – famous for their slogan ‘Don't copy anyone.’ In 1960, Yoshihara created several works composed of a bold circle spread over a plain canvas background. The artist developed this motif in his own exquisite way, which later became highly appreciated overseas. Yoshihara's circle was chosen not for any complex philosophical meaning but for its common usage in various circumstances, reflecting the innovativeness of his circle. Yoshihara played a crucial role in liberating art from stereotypes and maintained a significant influence over Gutai members.

 

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

An Interview with Michio Yoshihara's Wife Naomi in Ashiya, the Birthplace of Gutai
GUTAI STILL ALIVE 2015 vol.1
20/35
Art Critic Shigenobu Kimura On "Jiro Yoshihara's Theory of Art"
GUTAI STILL ALIVE 2015 vol.1
02/35
Art Historian Kunio Motoe’s Take On the “Gutai Art Association”
GUTAI STILL ALIVE 2015 vol.1
01/35

MAJOR EXHIBITIONS, COLLECTIONS

Founder and mentor of Gutai Art Association, Japanese postwar avant-garde group: GUTAI pursued the way of innovative art by appealing direct on materiality itself. Its slogan is known as “Don’t copy anyone”. In 1960, Yoshihara creates a number of works composed of a bold circle spread over a plane background of canvas. The artist develops this motif in his own exquisite way and becomes to be highly appreciated from overseas. The innovativeness of Yoshihara’s circle is its no philosophical meaning. It is only chosen for convenience. Yoshihara goes far in liberating art from any stereotypes and he has kept absolute influence on GUTAI members.

IMAGES

"Untitled" 25.5cm × 33.5cm, Undated
"Circle" 45.5 × 53.0 cm, 1971

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