Into Performance: Japanese Women Artists in New York
Midori Yoshimoto
Rutgers University Press
<p>The 1960s was a  time of incredible freedom and exploration in the art world,  particularly in New York City, which witnessed the explosion of New  Music, Happenings, Fluxus, New Dance, pop art, and minimalist art. Also  notable during this period, although often overlooked, is the inordinate  amount of revolutionary art that was created by women.</p><i> </i><p><i>Into Performance</i> fills a critical gap in both American and  Japanese art history as it brings to light the historical significance  of five women artists-Yoko Ono, Yayoi Kusama, Takako Saito, Mieko  Shiomi, and Shigeko Kubota. Unusually courageous and self-determined,  they were among the first Japanese women to leave their country-and its  male-dominated, conservative art world-to explore the artistic  possibilities in New York. They not only benefited from the New York art  scene, however, they played a major role in the development of  international performance and intermedia art by bridging avant garde  movements in Tokyo and New York.</p><p>This book traces the pioneering work of these five women artists and the socio-cultural issues that shaped their careers.  <i>Into Performance</i>  also explores the transformation of these artists' lifestyle from  traditionally confined Japanese women to internationally active artists.  Yoshimoto demonstrates how their work paved the way for younger  Japanese women artists who continue to seek opportunities in the West  today.</p>