３版3色刷り
負の感情をモティベーションにし、人の心に刺さる絵を描く
artist talk
23rd Frebruary 2017 in Atelier Circulaire, Montreal, Canada
about the Etching
Etching is a one of the technique of the printmaking. Etching, intaglio has some process to complete. At first I have to sketch on the same size as popper plate by pencil. Of course it is the most important process to make new image work. It took long time to decide the balance, shape, using techniques and so on. Then I pour the etching ground on the copper thinly. Sometime I should burn the ground by wax candle to fit on the surface of the copper. I trace the sketch on the ground, then I can scratch it by needle finally. I should be careful to draw, because it is not easy to change the line if I already scratched. After scratching all images, I put it into the acid water to make depth on the copper. After 1 hour I wash the plate, then remove the ground. Next process is printing. I put the ink on the plate, then wipe the ink. You can see the ink still remain into the depth. I prepare wet paper before printing. I remove the plate to the press machine table. I put the paper on the plate, then print it by pretty strong pressure. You can see final result of etching on the paper symmetry. You can make a lot of print works from one plate if you press many times.
basic information
2013 I made "100 fcaes". It was 10x15cm etching 100 works. Here is a box set of it. When I went to the foreign country, I made the other series of the work "friends". It still continues. It reached about 80 works now. Total 180 works are here. I printed 36 plates on a large paper at the one press. Like this way I put the other 36 plates put on the press table at the different combination, then I printed. I amount large paper on the 60x90cm wooden panel. I am showing 40 panels are combined. That means there are 1500 faces here. And then I do hand coloring on the paper by acrylic paint, color pencil, ball- point pen etc. I want make some connection for the next faces like a conversation.
100faces
One day I just thought of drawing a lot of kind of faces by intaglio printmaking technique. One work is same and small size, 15×10cm. When I finished 100 works, I will print them many times to cover the all walls of the gallery. I decided the rule to make before starting.
1, any design is okay, if it looks like a face.
2, the theme is from inside of me.
3, I will complete one work a day.
Printmaking has some process to complete. So it is not so easy to finish one work a day. I tried not to think well because I don’t have enough time. Sometimes I scratched the surface of the copper plate by needle directly. I made a few works from the same sketch by using different intaglio techniques. Finally I finished 100 works, after that I printed a hundred of faces by the different combination of the copper plates again and again. The faces reached about 3000 ones. I retouched on the print by water color, color pencil, pen, collage and so on. I tried to draw people's connection like a talking, loving, complaining each other.
Friends
2013 I visited Sweden to stay for one month at the printmaking studio as an artist in residence. I just wanted to change the concept of my work. I always drew something from inside of myself, so I wanted to start new project which I can connect with outside of me. I asked the people who I met at studio or other place to draw their face by intaglio. The some rules of this series are following.
1, draw a real people’s face
2, do not sketch them, draw their first impression or character
3, give them Kanji name
4, after finish it, give them a sheet of print.
When we meet first, we observe each other, and talk to understand. This process are interesting and important. How do I make the friend’s portrait? I think first impression is most important. Maybe we can get a lot of information from the first impression. If he is a talkative parson, I will draw many mouths. If she looks very busy, I will draw running body. They are also interested in my work's progress of their portrait. When I give a finished print to them, it is a pleasure for me to see their happy face. All friend's work has a several own story. I can enjoy talking that for the visitor. I already finished 90 portraits now. This series will be my lifework.
At the last
I want show my 2 series work as not only traditional printmaking, but also like installation. When the visitor came into the gallery, they feel like just amazing into a hundreds of or thousands of faces. I want make them catch just a strong power from my work.
about my works
artist talk H.K.U. 23, 04, 2007 Utrecht, the Netherlands
The first half of lecture, I will be talking about my print works by CD-R. And second half I will show you some works directly. I hope to discuss the printmaking with you.
Let me introduce myself briefly. I am a Japanese artist , printmaker. I make etching works. I continued them more than 20 years.
Last summer, I came the Netherlands as a fellowship of the Japanese Government Study program. I am making etching at the ‘ Grafisch Atrier Utrecht, C.B.K.U. ’ studio now. My solo exhibition was opened there last Friday. I hope you will come and enjoy my works.
When I graduated a high school , I took an examination to art university. But I failed at it . Next year I try it again. Also failed. After next year, I finally passed it.
I studied many oil paintings and sketches for examination during 2 years. But it was too academic for me. I am tied of these types of drawing. I was looking for the new medium of expression Then I met the print making.
Printmaking is not an instant work. You have to study some techniques before drawing. Maybe sometimes you may feel like a workman. I think that style is fitting me.
Gathering 2 1984 60×98cm
1984, I graduated from the Art University.
I was interested in the style of Surrealism. I like Salvador Dali, Max Ernst , Magritte and so on. One day I found Max Ernst’s Collages book. It was small and inexpensive but really inspired me. So I started the series of collages work ‘Gathering’.
First of all, I collect many many printed matters, art book, magazine, newspapers, pamphlets, etc. Then I copy , cut and stick them. Two forms are combined and a new image is born. Sometimes these forms are unique, and strange. It’s interesting for me.
This big etching is from 2 plates. One is for black ink and the other is for color inks. I used many different colors on some parts of plate. Many techniques are mixed. Etching, aquatint , mezzotint, drypoint. I spent 5 months to make this one. It was long time to make it, but I was completely happy.
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Gathering 10 1990 60×91cm
After I graduated from the university, I became a teacher. I taught the art in the high school for 10 years. I was busy every day. I couldn’t have enough time for my work. I think it was difficult to teach something to young student. Sometimes I was confused and exhausted. I drew that situation of my class.
Gathering 12 1991 60×80cm
At times, my wife ask me ‘ Why is there woman’s hip in it? Why are there many fingers? What does it mean?'... I have no idea. Then I always say to her,‘ I am always thinking about it, too. But maybe the meaning is not so important for me. Most important ideas are just interesting or not.’
a crying woman 1994 40×56cm
I was wandering about series of Gathering, because I was tired of collage work in those days.
In this work, I tried to use 3 plates. I cut these outline and also these inside line by jigsaw, total about 6 plates. I used many colors on the each separate parts of plates. For example, in this part, 1st plate is red, 2nd plate is green, and last plate is silver. This part is just embossment. I think these technical challenges inspired me directly. And making motivation continued.
Conversation 2 1995 91×122cm
This work is big size, 91cm×122cm. The left side and right side are separate each other 3 plates. I made total 6 plates for this work. It was very hard work not only to make etching , but also to print only one sheet. I will not make these big size color etching any more.
I am a Japanese 1996 60×91cm
10 years ago, I came to Belgium. I stayed print making studio ‘ Frants Mazereeel Centram’ for 3 weeks. I made one etching work, and made some foreign friends.
At that time, always I strongly felt that I was a Japanese. Why did I feel that? I am not sure. I like European style painting. I like etching technique from Europe. I don’t make wood cut print like Ukiyo-e. What is Japanese? ....Maybe it’s just sense. For example, I am too serious and shy.
After I came back Japan, I drew this work about the memory of Belgium. The center black cube is me. I was surrounded with my friends, Anneriese, Viele Rooms, and so on. Of course, I like to drink Belgium beer, Dekoninck!
Conversation 1 1994 29×41cm
Well I am not good at making conversation. I often think too much before speaking. But to tell the truth, I like conversation very much. This man want to speak strongly, but he can’t do it. The other man is also wandering what he should speak next.
This work is from 3 plates. Last black plate is mezzotint one. Please check it later.
a body in the Arcimboldo style 1996 29×19cm
This small one is the first work of the series ‘ Arcimboldo style’. I like Arcimboldo’s painting. He was an Austrian painter, 16th Century.
I tried challenge to get new technique. I made 3 etching plates for 3 colors, yellow, blue , and red. I have to print each 3 plates on same position perfectly. It is very difficult technique, because we have to use wet paper and have to take the pressure of the press. But finally I could find the possible the way. It is my own technique. You can see this mark, top and the bottom. This technique is not secret, but it is difficult to explain it for me by my poor English.
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Leaf １ 1996 29×19cm
This one is from 1 plate. First of all, I cut this oval line by jigsaw, and also cut this line by plate cutter. Then I made 2 mezzotint plates by locker.
I mixed the marker ink into benzene on this plate. We can make same effect by asphalt and alcohol. Then heat it. At last corrode it. So you can make this kind of texture easily.
a heavy hand 1997 130×91cm
This big one is made by same way. The size is 91cm×130cm. At first I cut this line by jigsaw. And the other straight lines by plate cutter. This center plate is mezzotint. This big mezzotint plate is made by machine. But I spent 2 weeks to make it. If you make it by your hand, maybe you will spend 2 months. When I print this big one, every 11 plates are pressed together at once.
Gathering roses 1998 41×29cm
This is the second work of series ‘Arcimboldo style’.
I made 3 etching plates for 3 colors, yellow, blue , and red. At first, I think I can make many different colors by mixing only 3 colors. But I couldn’t do well.
Crowd 1999 60×91cm
In those days I was thinking about using color ink. Why do I use the color? Do I really need the color in my work?...... I couldn’t answer anything. So I stopped to use the color ink.
I like drawing a human. I like drawing the living things. And I am interested in their shape. I try to deform, combine, and repeat them. It is comfortable for me. And I like also crowded shapes. Because I am still young, I think.
5 girls 2003 60×91cm
In those days I worried about the composition of my work. How do I think about the rectangular space of my work? I remembered that I was studying academic drawing style a long time ago. Once time, I hated that. But now I wanted to start from that academic style once again. I selected the most simple composition. 5 girls are just standing on the ground. I didn’t draw anything on the background. The new series ‘5 parsons’ started.
I like this girl. This black tone is very beautiful. This great gradation is made by effect of the velvety mezzotint technique. We always make mezzotint by using locker. But my own way, I do it by using a paper cutter. Iscratched many many lines, vertical, level, and other angle by cutter inside this girl’s shape.
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a star for 15 seconds 2005 29×41cm
These leaf series is made from soft ground etching. First of all, I prepare the several leaves. Next I cut them and take a pressure on the soft ground . Take off the leaves and corrode. We never be able to draw these texture.
I think, every artists want to be famouse. According to Andy Warhol, every parson can be a star for 15 seconds, aren't they? I am not sure if I already spent that time.
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alone 2004 60×91cm
The theme of this work is alone. I changed the composition of ‘5 person series' a little bit.
Right side person is myself. At times I feel lonely in the crowd.
alone-2 2004 60×91cm
This work brought me success 2 years ago. I got a first prize at the Kochi International Print Triennial.
I could make depth composition in this work . For example, parson and the other parsons overlap. I drew the near side parson darkly, and the far side parson lightly.
Anyway, I am thinking about my position in my life. When everyone is looking for the left side, sometimes I notice I am looking for the other side in the different atmosphere. Many ropes are symbol of the human society. Sometimes I felt that every parson connected each other without me.
a woman in the Arcimboldo style-1 1998 53×40cm
I like this series very much. I use this work for my name card and top page of my web site. I can feel many delicate and deep color in it. Maybe these work are not serious and dark. You can see the works os this series at my exhibition now.