In the lead up to major summer exhibition Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion, QAGOMA has begun revealing its accompanying Japanese art collections, which includes O and this week’s new offering Hanga: Modern Japanese Prints. This new exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery showcases more than 60 works from the Gallery’s collection, which demonstrate both the use of traditional centuries-old techniques as well as innovation and experimentation with new forms and methods.

The works in Hanga wave through a variety techniques and styles, spanning the creations of both leading Japanese printmakers and modern innovative hands. Artists Kiyoshi Saito and Kawano Kauro developed processes that diverged from the ukiyo-e and later shin-hanga (new print) traditions, culminating in the sosaku-hanga (creative print) movement, while other works demonstrate fresh ways to reconfigure traditional imagery and modes of production. Experiments with abstraction and graphic design are also featured, seeing the staple minimalist palette widened to embrace bold colours and compositions. Prints by Masami Teraoka, Lee Ufan, Ay-O, Tadanori Yokoo and Tōkō Shinoda provide examples of practices that crossed genres and had great influence outside Japan, solidifying the art form’s important place in Japanese art.

The exhibition opens this Saturday August 16 and runs until March 8, 2015, with UQ’s associate professor of Japanese history Morris Low hosting a free after-hours tour on Wednesday August 20, divulging insights into the pieces.

Image credit:
Masami TERAOKA Japan/United States b.1936 / Namiyo at Hanauma Bay (from ‘Hanauma Bay’ series) 1985 / Colour lithograph on buff Arches cover paper, ed. 72/150 / Purchased 1989 with funds from Queensland Coal Resources through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery © The artist