The famous Japanese Fluxus movement artist Ay-O was honoured at the Lithuanian Embassy in Tokyo, November 6
The veteran of Fluxus movement, Japanese artist Ay-O received the Letter of Gratitude for the contribution to the development of cultural partnership between Lithuania and Japan signed by Lithuanian Minister of Culture Jonas Jucas and the Letter of Appreciation for the pieces or art contributed to Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis National Art Museum signed by Kaunas City Mayor Andrius Kupcinskas.Receiving the letters, the Japanese artist expressed his appreciataion and stresseed that he would be keen to contribute more to Lithuania, the homeland of his fellow artist George Maciunas.Ay-O is one of the few artists of his generation who have established themselves in both Europe and the United States. In Japan, he is known as the legendary "Rainbow Man" for the familiar multi-colored, rainbow-striped motifs of his prints, paintings and sculptures. Ay-O has been a vital member of the international Fluxus group since he joined George Maciunas, founder of Fluxus group, in 1963 in NY. His "Finger Box" series became an icon of Fluxus exhibitions and his performance events provided some of the most memorable images of the Fluxus festivals and concerts. Working closely with colleagues such as George Maciunas, Emmett Williams, Dick Higgins and Nam June Paik, Ay-O has helped to create a revolution in the aesthetic consciousness of the time. After returning to Japan, Ay-O hold numerous exhibitions, including Mito Contemporary Art Museum, Mori Art Museum and others. In 2006 he showed his retrospective “Over the Rainbow. Ay-O Retrospective 1950-2006” in Fukui Fine Arts Museum. Ay-O is part of the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and Kyoto.In 2001 Ay-O visited Lithuania to participate in a large-scale international art project “On the Egde 2001 initiated by Lithuanian artist Saulius Valius. During his stay, Ay-O re-created his famous installation “The Black Hole” dedicated to George Maciunas which was first exhibited in NY. Ay-O presented the installation as a permanent exhibition along with a series of more than 40 silk-screens and a number of art objects to the National Ciurlionis Art Museum based in Kaunas. That was Japanese artists’ tribute to the hometown of his friend George Maciunas. A group of Lithuania-related Japanese artists, gallery curators and owners from Youkubo Art Space, Toki Art Space, Abiko International Open-Air Exhibition and had also joined the ceremony at the embassy.
The veteran of Fluxus movement, Japanese artist Ay-O received the Letter of Gratitude for the contribution to the development of cultural partnership between Lithuania and Japan signed by Lithuanian Minister of Culture Jonas Jucas and the Letter of Appreciation for the pieces or art contributed to Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis National Art Museum signed by Kaunas City Mayor Andrius Kupcinskas.Receiving the letters, the Japanese artist expressed his appreciataion and stresseed that he would be keen to contribute more to Lithuania, the homeland of his fellow artist George Maciunas.
Ay-O is one of the few artists of his generation who have established themselves in both Europe and the United States. In Japan, he is known as the legendary "Rainbow Man" for the familiar multi-colored, rainbow-striped motifs of his prints, paintings and sculptures. Ay-O has been a vital member of the international Fluxus group since he joined George Maciunas, founder of Fluxus group, in 1963 in NY. His "Finger Box" series became an icon of Fluxus exhibitions and his performance events provided some of the most memorable images of the Fluxus festivals and concerts. Working closely with colleagues such as George Maciunas, Emmett Williams, Dick Higgins and Nam June Paik, Ay-O has helped to create a revolution in the aesthetic consciousness of the time.
After returning to Japan, Ay-O hold numerous exhibitions, including Mito Contemporary Art Museum, Mori Art Museum and others. In 2006 he showed his retrospective “Over the Rainbow. Ay-O Retrospective 1950-2006” in Fukui Fine Arts Museum. Ay-O is part of the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and Kyoto.
In 2001 Ay-O visited Lithuania to participate in a large-scale international art project “On the Egde 2001 initiated by Lithuanian artist Saulius Valius. During his stay, Ay-O re-created his famous installation “The Black Hole” dedicated to George Maciunas which was first exhibited in NY. Ay-O presented the installation as a permanent exhibition along with a series of more than 40 silk-screens and a number of art objects to the National Ciurlionis Art Museum based in Kaunas. That was Japanese artists’ tribute to the hometown of his friend George Maciunas. A group of Lithuania-related Japanese artists, gallery curators and owners from Youkubo Art Space, Toki Art Space, Abiko International Open-Air Exhibition and had also joined the ceremony at the embassy.
