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美術館 > ENGLISH > EXHIBITION > Temporary Exhibitions > 1990-1999 > Motonaga Sadamasa

Motonaga Sadamasa

4 January - 3 February 1991

 

Hours: 9:30a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Entry is permitted thirty minutes before the galleries are closed.

 

Closed: Closed on Mondays

 

 

Admission: charged

 

The exhibition “Sadamasa Motonaga” is mounted jointly by Mie Prefectural Art Museum and Cultural Foundation of Okada to reveal the whole work of this superb artist, who is now one of the artists active in Japan who attract a good deal of international public attention.

 

Motonaga was born in Ueno City in Mie Prefecture on November 26,1922. First he wanted to be a comic artist, but soon his interest was taken by painting. He began to study painting under Mankichi Hamabe, who was a painter belonging to the “Bunten” school, and mainly painted nude and landscape. In 1952, at the age of 30, he moved to Kobe City. Strongly influenced by the abstract paintings exhibited at the Ashiya City Art Exhibition at that time, he tried to make abstract paintings inspired by the night view of the Rokko Mountains.

 

In 1955, Motonaga joined the art group “GUTAI” and exhibited a lot of works at its exhibition until he left the group in 1971. During his “GUTAI” period, he energetically presented the paintings in the style analogous to the French art movement “Informel”. They were painted with his original technique of flowing colors on the canvas and are full of dynamic sense of life. At the same time Motonaga played the performances using smoke, made the objects of natural stones, and tried the ‘water’ works. Such unique activities made him famous as a representative member of the “GUTAI” group not only in Japan but also abroad.

 

In 1966, Motonaga went to the United States. During his stay in New York, he began his inquiry into forms with clear outline, which he had already attempted in 1950s. As a result of this, his painting style changed very much, doubled by his use of air brush technique and device of spray. His works came to be characterized by the vivid colors and the abstract forms with a humorous touch. The lightness and the sense of humor penetrate all his works, which are given unique titles full of wit. These are the essential qualities of which the unique world of Motonaga’s art consists.

 

Along with paintings, Motonaga’s activities extend over a wide field, including prints, ceramic works, design for chairs and tapestries, and publication of picture books. All these works are undoubtedly marked by his own sensibility and highly appreciated in Japan as well as abroad. This is proved by the fact that he has won a lot of prizes, for example, the Japanese Art Grand-Prix in 1983.

 

This exhibition is organized to reveal the whole expanse of Motonaga’s various activities from the earliest to the most recent and 125 paintings as well as drawings, prints, chairs, objects and tapestries are exhibited. There are also reconstructions of his ‘water’ works of “GUTAI” period.

 

We would like to express our deep gratitude to the museums and collectors, who have kindly lent us the works for display, to Asahi Beer Arts and Culture Foundation, who has assisted our exhibition, and to all the parties, who have offered their cooperation.

Motonaga Sadamasa

Catalogue

Exhibition MOTONAGA Sadamasa (2009)

 

 

In memory of MOTONAGA Sadamasa (2011)

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