Lot Essay
Chiyu Uemae joined Gutai in it’s founding year (1954), having initially studied Chinese-style literati painting (Nanga), before moving to contemporary art. Like other Gutai artists, Uemae rejected the traditional materials of painting, and had an interest in the use of everyday items including matches, sawdust and paint tubes, and between 1956 and 1964 his works were largely made up of such materials.
For an example of his work in The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan, go to http:/search.artmuseums.go.jp/search_e/records.php?sakuhin=161375 (titled Work, 1960).
For an example (also titled Work, 1960), using oil, synthetic paint, glue, wood and sawdust on canvas, see Ming Tiampo and Alexandra Munroe, Gutai: Splendid Playground, exhibition catalogue, Guggenheim Museum, (New York, 2013), p.154, plate 63.
For an example of his work in The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan, go to http:/search.artmuseums.go.jp/search_e/records.php?sakuhin=161375 (titled Work, 1960).
For an example (also titled Work, 1960), using oil, synthetic paint, glue, wood and sawdust on canvas, see Ming Tiampo and Alexandra Munroe, Gutai: Splendid Playground, exhibition catalogue, Guggenheim Museum, (New York, 2013), p.154, plate 63.