A Reinterpretation of Japan’s Postwar Art Scene
During the 1950s and 60s in Japan, female artists initially gained prominence in the avant-garde scene, supported by movements like art informel. However, the subsequent introduction of “action painting” — a style closely associated with masculine ideals of boldness and strength — led to the marginalization of women painters from critical discussion.
This exhibition seeks to reinterpret modern and contemporary Japanese art history by adopting the “anti-action” perspective, a framework drawn from Nakajima Izumi’s 2019 book, Anti-action: Post-war Japanese Art and Women Artists. Through this lens, the exhibition presents artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Atsuko Tanaka and Hideko Fukushima, and many others who have been traditionally overlooked in art history.
