津高和一 TSUTAKA Waichi 1911–1995

1911（明治44）年兵庫県西宮市に生まれる。戦前は詩人として活動しながら、大阪の中之島洋画研究所で学ぶ。1951（昭和26）年第7回行動美術協会展に書的な線による抽象絵画《埋葬》を出品して同会会員となる。1957（昭和32）年第4回サンパウロ・ビエンナーレに出品、翌年の第3回現代日本美術展で優秀賞を受賞する。1968（昭和43）年大阪芸術大学教授となり、多くの後進を育てた。1991（平成3）年大阪の国立国際美術館で個展が開催される。1995（平成7）年阪神・淡路大震災で倒壊した自宅の下敷きになり、夫人と共に亡くなる。
＜「あの時みんな熱かった！アンフォルメルと日本の美術」展（2016年、京都国立近代美術館）図録より引用＞

Born in Osaka in 1911 and started painting in his late 20s. After the Second World War he began exhibiting his work in group exhibitions and his subject matter was focused on the ruins of war. From around 1952 however he changed to painting abstract work incorporating abstract shapes and poised lines, combined with bold color. He did not join any particular art movement, however he joined some small artist societies including Gendai Bijutsu Kondankai (Contemporary Art Discussion Group), kown as 'Genbi', which was established by artists Jiro Yoshihara and Kokuta Suda and others in 1952 in order for artists to discuss ideas freely regardless of their associations with any particularly school or movement.
Tsutaka continued to exhibit at various group and solo exhibitions - including Tsutaka Waichi at The National Museum of Art, Osaka (1993), where 130 of his works were shown. He died in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Kobe in 1995, aged 84.
Waichi Tsutaka's work has entered museum collections including The National Museum of Art, Osaka, and The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.