Born in Osaka in 1932, Atsuko Tanaka’s art career was deeply inspired by the resurgent and flourishing power of post-war Japan. At the age of 19, she studied at Kyoto Municipal College of Art (now Kyoto City University of Arts), and later at the Art Institute of Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts (now Art Institute of Osaka Municipal Museum of Art), pursuing her artistic career in a more open environment. In 1954, she joined Zero Kai, an art society founded by Akira Kanayama, Kazuo Shiraga, and Saburo Murakami. The aim of the society was to break down conventions and develop a unique path for Japan contemporary art. Afterwards, the members of the society including Tanaka joined the Gutai Art Association founded by Jiro Yoshihara. The belief of Gutai derives from that of Zen, which looks into the original physicality and materiality of things. Gutai artists explored the non-affiliated interaction between spirit and matter on an equal basis, and further gave form to the spirituality of matter. Whether matter (material) - wise or spirit (concept)-wise, the artists dedicated themselves to developing new forms of art.