HARMONY OF THE CONTEMPORARY AND THE TRADITIONAL

Works in lacquer, silk, and rice paper by Japanese artists

March 5th through 26th, 2005

This exhibition is focused on the traditional techniques and materials in contemporary art by three Japanese artists: Masao Fumita, Naoko Ito, and Tsutomu Ohmukai in collaboration with Hideki Murayama. These artists are based in the Osaka / Kyoto area which has continuously maintained its traditional artisan culture into the 21st Century.

SPACE OF LINE II (sen no kukan)	WIND DIRECTION I (fuui)	GRAVITATION (sui)	WIND DIRECTION II (fuui)

The joining of the disciplines of graphic design by Tsutomu Ohmukai (b. 1948), and traditional mounting (hyogu) by Hideki Murayama (b. 1954), offers a unique artistic image. Kyoto artists Ohmukai and Murayama experiment with the traditional form of both Japanese graphic design and mounting. The traditional forms shown in this exhibit have been adapted to the sensibilities of the 21st century. The graphics are printed on Japanese rice paper by the methods of silkscreen, and collagraph, an intaglio print technique. In the graphics there is a repetition and juxtaposition of straight and curved lines which suggest moire patterns and resonant visual kinetic energy. Geometric forms are introduced in the works and allude to the third-dimension. The mounting and graphics of their hanging scrolls present the intersection and collaboration between two separate artistic expressions.

Rustle II - IX rice paper, acrylic 10.5" x 8.75" x 2"

Masao Fumita is fascinated by handmade rice paper. Regardless of the scale, his finished surfaces are quite tactile, yet retain the delicacy of rice paper. His recent work translates his impressions of natural phenomena through handmade rice paper. His work captures the feeling and sound of wind blowing. Color changes evoke fairy creatures prancing in nature. Contributing to the uniqueness of the work is the translucent floating of heavy handmade rice paper, and the way in which the overlapping paper has a magical effect on its reflecting colors. Masao Fumita was born in 1949 in Osaka City, Japan.

Naoko Ito uses the ancient Japanese technique of lacquerware for making non-figurative contemporary art. Routinely, lacquerware techniques have been applied for utilitarian purposes. Contrarily, Ito combines various materials with the lacquerware in order to translate her fantasy world, making her work precious and unique. Ito has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Her work is shown in Brussels, where she studied metalwork, as well as in Paris, France. Her work is also in the collections of various museums in Europe and Japan. She was born in 1954 in Osaka, Japan.