Gutai's artistic activities were not originally centered on painting. His early outdoor exhibitions were unique and unparalleled in their use of the site. The works were in harmony with the natural environment, and both the environment and the works were exhibited in a way that created a new mutual attraction. Later, land art and environmental art, which emerged in Europe and the United States, were sometimes criticized as being environmentally destructive because they confronted nature or altered it. While Westerners may have viewed the harsh natural environment as an object of awe or something to be conquered, Japanese and Oriental art is rooted in the idea of assimilating nature and improving the value of each other. Such differences in approach make Gutai's activities stand out as more unique.