Anti-Action: Their Respective Responses and Challenges
This exhibition re-examines the overlooked creative work of Japanese women artists from the 1950s-60s using the keyword 'Anti-Action'.Summary
This exhibition showcases approximately 120 works by 14 artists, addressing the historical oversight of women artists who gained attention after the war. It re-examines the creative output of Japanese women artists from the 1950s and 60s through the lens of "Anti-Action." While the influx of the abstract art movement "Art Informel" initially boosted female artists, subsequent introduction of the concept of "Action Painting" led to their exclusion from critical discourse, as the notion of "Action" was closely tied to masculine traits like vigor and strength, causing a backlash against traditional gender order. Drawing on the gender studies perspective from Izumi Nakajima's 2019 book *Anti-Action*, the exhibition highlights the unique trajectories and challenges of these women who responded to the "Action" era in distinct ways, featuring artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Atsuko Tanaka.
(Source：ART iT)