Takuji Hamanaka
Vintage, 2020
32”x 25 1/2”
Medium: cut and pasted monochrome woodblock printed paper, mounted on museum board.
Takuji Hamanaka’s mosaic-inspired works on paper, multiple sections of monochrome color interlock within dimensional, polychrome compositions. Adapting the ‘Bokashi’ technique of woodblock printing to a contemporary practice, Hamanaka prints multiple papers in single-color gradients and arranges them onto paper in organic designs that call to mind lattices, prisms, and slopes. Color and its absence draw attention to the paper’s opacity, as well as more theoretical ideas of windows and grids, and the tension between nature and pure abstraction. Hamanaka was born in Hokkaido, Japan and lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. His works are included in the collections of the Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell, University, and Sumitomo Corporation, among others.
Can you tell us a bit about the process of making your work?
My works are more like hybrid of two ancient craft-woodcut and stained glass both of which I have a good deal of experience.
Tell us more about your work in the show.
This is one of recent work where I used metallic foil on the ground. I am fascinated by the effect this new material can convey.
Atmospheric Phenomenon, 2020
32”x 25 1/2”
Medium: cut and pasted monochrome woodblock printed paper, mounted on museum board.
What are some references you draw upon in your work? Are there any themes in particular that you like to focus on when creating?
I’m interested in trans-placing characteristics effect and technique found in printmaking and bringing something unique to centuries old craft.
Where are some of your favorite spaces that support contemporary art or design? Now that the art has an online presence, has that changed?
Various online platforms are nice places for visual resources and information. I could not name names much but especially during last year it was great to grasp some sense of what other artists were doing on Instagram. I still do like physical gallery space to view works up close though...
Lights in the Northern Land, 2020
32”x 25 1/2”
Medium: cut and pasted monochrome woodblock printed paper, mounted on museum board.
Who are some of your favorite artists? Or who has been inspirational recently?
There are so many... this show of Rembrandt I saw several years ago still still stays with me. It was especially this small etching that I felt really emitting light from within.
Do you have any shows coming up? Anything else you would like to share?
My solo show at Kristen Lorello Gallery ended earlier October.
Takuji Hamanaka’s work is included in our show “Time Wont Tell,” November 3rd - December 30th, 2021. Visit his website here or on Instagram @takujihanga