A Taste of GUTAI: Exploring the possibilities of art

To a normal person, the word Gutai may not hold a lot of meaning. Art enthusiasts, on the other hand, recognize it for what it is: a radical and energetic approach to art making that included performance, painting, installation, and theatrical events. It is seen by many in the art community as a predecessor to what we know today as performance art.

Gutai itself did not really start as a form of art. Rather, it is the name of a post-WWII artist group founded by Jiro Yoshihara in 1954. The name means “concreteness” and it was their goal to “do what no one has done before.” (Yoshihara, 1955)

A TASTE OF GUTAI. Over 80 pieces from the world-renowned members of Gutai, all in one location.

Gutai found a lot of success worldwide, culminating with their participation in Expo ’70. It was to be Yoshihara’s final achievement, showcasing Gutai to millions of people. The group disbanded in 1972 after Yoshihara’s passing. The most recent feature of Gutai art happened in 2013 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

WORK 17 (Yasuo Sumi, 2004). A more recent creation that wasn’t featured in Expo ’70, but still evokes Gutai in its entirety.

UNTITLED (Sadamasa Motonaga, 1976). One of the highlights of the exhibit.

In A Taste of Gutai: Lito and Kim Camacho Collection, Filipinos art enthusiasts will get to experience Gutai art from some of its best artists, including the Shozo Shimamoto, Kazuo Shiraga, and the founder himself, Jiro Yoshihara.

CARTA (Shozo Shimamoto, 1985)

WOMAN CROSSING ARM (Jiro Yoshihara, 1949). One of Yoshihara’s earlier works impresses with its subtlety.

While Gutai is better appreciated by seeing the process of its creation, the pieces themselves will speak to contemporary art enthusiasts. Contemporary art succeeds when it evokes emotion; but it doesn’t have to be positive, unlike more traditional forms of art. It also takes on many forms, making it more enjoyable for the general public.

As their manifesto says, “As a group, however, we impose no rules. Ours is a free site of creation wherein we have actively pursued diverse experimentations, ranging from art to be appreciated with the whole body to tactile art to Gutai music.” (Yoshihara, December 1956)

A Taste of Gutai: Lito and Kim Camacho Collection is the opening exhibit for the Ayala Museum’s Collector Series program this 2016. It will run from Feb. 5 to April 10, 2016 at the Ayala Museum Ground Floor Gallery. Through Collectors Series, Ayala Museum is able to showcase several works, which have not been publicly displayed.

If you’re interested in viewing the gallery, you may visit the Ayala Museum located at Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays to Sundays. For inquiries, please email hello@ayalamuseum.org or call 02-759-8288 local 35.

Artwork Photos courtesy of: Jaime S. Martinez via Ayala Museum
Gallery collage courtesy of: Andrew Del Rosario