Jackson polark.

By BENJAMIN GENOCCHIOAUG. 21, 2009

The Gutai group of postwar Japanese conceptual artists not only made radical abstract paintings with their hands and feet; they also sought to network with similar-minded artists in other parts of the world. One of their efforts to forge these connections is the basis for a curious little show at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center exploring a link between Gutai and the artist Jackson Pollock.Multiple copies of Issues 2 and 3 of the Gutai magazine, published by the group to illustrate and promote its activities, were found in Pollock’s library after his death in 1956 by a close friend, B. H. Friedman. But until recently nobody had any idea how they got there.The answer to the mystery is contained in a recently discovered letter written by Shozo Shimamoto on behalf of the Gutai group to Pollock on Feb. 6, 1956, informing the American artist of Gutai’s existence and requesting his views on some enclosed copies of its magazines.Pollock never responded to the letter, as far as anyone knows, but kept the magazines. He died later that year.PhotoCONCEPTUAL TREASURES Issues of the Gutai journal sent to Jackson Pollock.Tetsuya Oshima, a Japanese curator, discovered the letter in 2006 while doing research on Pollock’s work in Lee Krasner’s papers at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art in Washington. His essay about the discovery in the catalog accompanying the present show is great reading. He also speculates that members of Gutai first saw Pollock’s work in a 1951 exhibition in Japan.The current show contains the original letter, along with Mr. Friedman’s reply to the Gutai group informing them of Pollock’s death.

Fluxus

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/f/fluxus

Gutai

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/g/gutai