Exhibition Structure

Chapter 1: 1960 – 1971

In 1958 Kinoshita entered Kyoto City University of Arts, where she studied under Kuroda Jutaro and Suda Kunitaro. Her early works, up to the time when she met Kawaguchi Tatsuo and Okuda Yoshimi and became active in the Group “i” collective, are on display.

Chapter 2: 1972 – 1981

Kinoshita, who had been actively working as an artist since her youth, mounted solo exhibitions nearly every year, mainly at Galerie 16 (Kyoto), Muramatsu Gallery (Tokyo), and Tor Road Gallery (Kobe). Her practice incorporated many forms of expression, such as photographic collages and compositions, and drawings made with felt-tip pens. During this period she first received acclaim as an artist. This chapter includes newly unearthed video works from this time.

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, '76-C
  1976, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, '78-1
  1978, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, Mu 36
  1976, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

Chapter 3: 1982 – 1994

In 1982 Kinoshita changed course and begin creating abstract paintings. Her style changed frequently in the years up to 1992; sometimes she used broad, powerful brush strokes, and sometimes she wiped off areas that she had already painted. Adding and subtracting analogous hues gives these paintings a sense of depth that seems to be layered over time.

One of her largest works was uncovered in the research for this exhibition, and will be shown here for the first time after its restoration is completed.

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, '86-CA323
  1986, collection of Kitagawa Sadahiro (deposited in Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka)

Kinoshita was diagnosed with cancer. She desperately wanted to paint, and keenly felt the lack of time.

She went to Los Angeles in search of treatment, and she continued to work while there. As she confronted her impending death, her style changed, and she created works that conveyed a sense of tension from the canvas.

During the course of her life, until her death in 1994 at the age of 55, Kinoshita produced more than 1200 works, producing more than 700 paintings just from 1982 onward. Focusing on a series of paintings, this chapter of the exhibition presents works up to her final painting in 1994.

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, LA '92-CA681
  1992, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, '93-CA792
  1992, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

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  KINOSHITA Kazuyo, Untitled (Last work, unfinished)
  1994, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

Related Events

Commemorative Lecture
Kazu-san: the artist Kinoshita Kazuyo

Lecture + Screening
Reconsidering & Replaying “Video/Kyoto/1974”

Gallery talk by exhibition curator