Exhibition "Two Masters of Contemporary Japanese Graphics"

May 25 at 16.00 in the main building of the Irkutsk Art Museum (Lenin St., 5) opens the exhibition "Two Masters of Contemporary Japanese Graphics." The exposition represents the work of two of the most striking Japanese graphic artists: Seiko Kawati and Katsunori Hamanishi, and is absolutely unique, since the volumes of the work of these famous masters have never been shown together. The exhibition is dedicated to the official opening of the year of cultural exchange between Russia and Japan, which will be held in Moscow on May 26.

Both artists are the pride of modern Japanese culture: their works are in the collections of the largest museums in the world. Seiko Kawati is one of the few who not only preserves the art of woodcut, traditional for Japan (wood engraving), in his work, but also develops it. By actively experimenting, he achieves great expressiveness in his works, and his graphic pages are easily recognizable. “Born in the Year of the Rooster, he often uses this image in his work. But if the rooster does not have the ability to fly, then in Kavati’s works, he soars above the symbolic wave of the famous Hokusai or flies under the arches of the Gothic cathedral, over the Tokyo City Hall, or even leaves the Earth, going on a space flight, ”the curator writes about the author exhibitions, art critic Andrei Martynov.

Katsunori Hamanisi is one of the few in the world who owns the most complicated mezzo-tinto technique (a special type of metal engraving). There are not so many genuine masters of this technique and all their names are well known in the graphic community. In this rather narrow circle, a Japanese master occupies a special place. His graphics can be divided into two large blocks: the first clearly traces his nationality - many of the master’s works reproduce typical Japanese landscapes with the moon or the sun, the second block are sheets that can be attributed to symbolism and abstractionism.

The exhibition will open May 25 in the main building of the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum. V.P. Sukachev (5 Lenin St.) and will work until June 24, 2018. Entrance to the opening is free. Phone for inquiries: 34-01-46.