Collectivism after Modernism - autonomous learning - Blogs

62 Reiko Tomii
was formally founded in July 1969 by, among others, Hori Kosai (chairman)
and Hikosaka Naoyoshi, students of Tama Art University in Tokyo. Arising
from the “nonsect” movement of Zenkyoto (Zengaku Kyoto Kaigi, or All-
Campus Joint-Struggle Councils), Bikyoto had its origin in such on-campus
activities as the drama and Wlm clubs, Self-Burial Ritual (a procession-like
performance in 1967 at Ginza by Hori, Hikosaka, and others), and League
of Plastic Artists (Zokei Sakka Domei), which organized an exhibition on
the barricaded campus of Tama in June 1969. Bikyoto identiWed its battle-
Weld not as students but as artists (bijutsuka), aiming to “Dismantle the Power
Structure of Art!” 51 Its logical enemies included the stronghold of the modern
institutions: the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, where the salon and
the organizational annual exhibitions were traditionally held, as well as Nitten
(the postwar incarnation of Bunten) and kobo-ten. The postwar institutions
were also targeted, including Expo ’70 and such major exhibitions as
the Tokyo Biennale. Forming intergroup alliances with other student radicals
and art professionals, Bikyoto made a few small successes: in one of them,
the members joined the Nissenbi Smashing Joint-Struggle group to interrupt
a jury meeting of the Nissenbi (Japan Advertising Artists Club) annual
poster competition; jury selection was eventually completed but an exhibition
FIGURE 2.4. Hikosaka Naoyoshi, Floor Event (invitation postcard to “Revolution” part of Bikyōtō
Revolution Committee’s Solo exhibition series), 1971. Silkscreen and offset, 10 x14.5 cm, collection
of the artist. Copyright Hikosaka Naoyoshi.