PROFILE
上前智祐
上前智祐
Chiyu Uemae was born in Kyoto in 1920. He was part of the Gutai Art Association Group and created his unique world as an abstract artist. Experiencing various jobs, such as a crane operator and an apprentice at a traditional dyeing factory in Kyoto, Uemae studied Chinese ‘Nan-ga’ then shifts to oil painting. In 1953, Uemae met Yoshihara, and since then, Uemae has taken part in every Gutai exhibition until its dissolution. Uemae's artistic creations encompass a wide range of mediums, including two-dimensional works characterised by pattern accumulation achieved through the use of painting knives or delicate stitching, as well as sculptural pieces crafted from wood or sawdust. These diverse expressions are rooted in his formative experiences during adolescence. He used traditional Japanese colours exclusively or combined them according to Japanese artistic traditions. Uemae expertly blended tradition and originality into a single style.
