Auckland’s art scene is set to be enriched by the arrival of a captivating Japanese print exhibition, Variation and Autonomy: The Prints of Contemporary Japanese Painters, presented by Auckland Council, the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland and the Japan Foundation.
The travelling exhibition introduces the work of 10 established Japanese artists who explored printmaking throughout the 1970s to expand the range of their expression, and by doing so, pushed the boundaries of contemporary art.
Variation and Autonomy: The Prints of Contemporary Japanese Painters is free to attend and will be held at Studio One Toi Tū from 29 February until 28 March, with a special opening event on 28 February.
Waitematā Local Board Chair Genevieve Sage invites all to experience the beauty of this unique art form firsthand.
“The upcoming exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for our community to delve into the intricacies of Japanese artistry and heritage, expanding our city’s rich cultural landscape.
“I’d like to thank the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland and the Japan Foundation for providing these spectacular prints and Studio One Toi Tū for hosting a space for everyone to explore the art form and gain a deeper understanding of the techniques involved.”
Following on from the sōsaku-hanga movement (woodblock printing) in early 20th century Japan, by the 1970s, printmaking became popular with Japanese artists with many turning their hand to the artform.
Variation and Autonomy: The Prints of Contemporary Japanese Painters includes the work of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, the highest-selling living female artist in the world, profiling her lesser-known printmaking era and presented alongside a screening of Kusama: Infinity, a 2018 documentary about the internationally renowned artist.
Also included in the exhibition are Masanari Murai and Toshinobu Onosato, known as pioneers in the art of peintre-graveur (painter-engraver), portraying a wide range of styles in their work and re-defining the meaning of contemporary art at that time.
Mr MATSUI Shinji, Consul-General of Japan in Auckland, is proud to present an important piece of Japanese art history to New Zealand.
“We are pleased to co-host this extraordinary exhibition with Auckland Council and Studio One Toi Tū and we are grateful for their cooperation and all efforts to bring it to fruition.
“This exhibition will introduce the work of ten Japanese artists who explored a wide range of possibilities through prints. This will provide an opportunity for visitors to discover the world of contemporary Japanese art in the 1970s. We hope that many visitors will come to and be inspired by the exhibition.”
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Japanese printmaking. Visit the free exhibition at Studio One Toi Tū from 29 February – 28 March. A free screening of Kusama: Infinity takes place at Studio One Toi Tū on Saturday 16 March. Find out more at studioone.org.nz or at the consulate website.
