Blue2Green

An exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Prints opening on September 18th 2008 at the B2G Gallery, 33 Everton Road in Chinatown, will present an opportunity to view works by diverse Japanese artists who are considered to be among the finest printmakers in the international print world today.  On the EDGE: The Nature of Contemporary Japanese Printmaking is curated by Gail Siegers, a dealer in Japanese prints for over 30 years.  This exhibit will run through until December 12th 2008.  During this period there will be numerous special scheduled public and private events, including art talks about such topics as the Japanese art aesthetic and the art of printmaking.

Early 20th century printmakers laid the groundwork for contemporary artists today.  Rejecting the concept of division of labor in printmaking, they felt every stage in the making of prints was part of the creative process and therefore should be executed exclusively by the artist.  This allowed for a freedom of expression and experimentation with ideas and techniques that had not existed before and elevated printmaking in Japan from a craft to a true art form.  In the words of the late James Michener, author, art historian and collector, “the artist’s goal was the creation of a work of art using the medium of the print as a vehicle.”

While experimenting with the processes, the Japanese artists are still grounded in the art aesthetic of Japan.  An innate respect for materials, the sense of design that combines the expressive flowing line and asymmetrical balance with a sense of simplicity, that is, the pairing away the non-essential, are all part of the allure of these prints.  As world famous painter and lithographer, Toko Shinoda, once said, “old patterns must retain their essence, but be constantly reinvigorated by fresh creative impulses.”

That contemporary print artists in Japan do all the work themselves makes them unique among print artists in today’s world.  It is also what makes their prints so remarkable.  Japanese prints are sought after by collectors because they push the limits on all these fronts while at the same time they execute their techniques to perfection.     It is from freedom combined with tradition that the artist can create something unique and personal.

For additional information about the exhibition and related events and to view a sample of images from the show, please contact Gail Siegers at 9815-4039, or visit the B2G website at http://www.blue2green.com.