Atsuko Tanaka: Life After Gutai

Atsuko Tanaka, a pioneering member of the Gutai Art Association founded in 1954, gained renewed recognition after a 2001 retrospective at the Museum of Arts in Ashiya, curated by director Mizuho Kato. Despite being one of few women in Gutai, Tanaka created revolutionary works from the mid-1950s to early 1960s, including the iconic Electric Dress (1956). After leaving Gutai in 1965, she continued painting circles and lines for over 40 years, often facing periods of obscurity and financial hardship. The retrospective led to solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Milan in 2002, with upcoming shows in Innsbruck (September) and Vancouver (2005). Tanaka, turning 70, now feels she has made her 'true debut' independent of Gutai, thanks to Kato's three-year effort. She cites Gutai's collaborative spirit and master Jiro Yoshihara as early influences, but left due to 'indecent' developments. She acknowledges obsessive tendencies in her curved motifs but finds healing through painting. Her preferred work is the large-scale 94B (1994). Tanaka believes art must coexist with advances in science and medicine.