An early member of the Japanese avant-garde Gutai group (1954-1972), Atsuko Tanaka created an incredible variety of groundbreaking and challenging works. She worked in a range of media, including sound, painting, installation, and performance. In the photo above, Tanaka is wearing what is perhaps her most well-known work, Electric Dress (1956), which consisted of hundreds of hand-painted bulbs that flickered on and off.

To prepare for the September 30 session, please read an essay on her work by fellow Gutai artist Shozo Shimamoto titled "Can a Piece of Cloth Be a Work of Art?" Images of the works he references are below. (Note: Shimamoto uses the Japanese format of family name followed by given name, so Tanaka's name will appear as "Tanaka Atsuko" in his text.) CLICK HERE to download the PDF.

On September 30, we will give a brief intro to the Gutai group before discussing Tanaka's work. If you would like to learn more about Gutai beforehand, visit the Guggenheim's exhibition website for Gutai: Splendid Playground HERE.

Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese, 1932-2005). Work (Bell), 1955/1993. Twelve bells, wire, motor, and switch. Installation dimensions variable; length of wire: 98 feet 5 inches (30 m). The Rachofsky Collection and the Dallas Museum of Art through the TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art Fund