Touring exhibition features Japanese prints from 1970s

A visitor checking out the art work during opening ceremony of "Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s" exhibitionat Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. - LIM BENG TATT/The Star

EXPLORING the world of 1970s Japanese prints with the likes of works by internationally renowned artists such as Tetsuya Noda will take one back to the start of the print movement.

Featuring one-of-a-kind Japanese contemporary artwork during the golden age of art in Japan, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang is housing 50 such pieces as part of the “Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s” exhibition.

Divided into two sections, one is The Age of Photographic Images, which focuses on the use of photographic images in the print medium through techniques such as silk screening and offset printing that led to easy transformation of photographic images.

The other section, dubbed Images of Autonomous Matter, showcases works that were shaped and created using materials like stone, wood, paper, cotton and steel sheets, allowing the print blocks, paper and ink to speak for themselves.

(From left) Prof Abdul Rahman, Orikasa and Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur director Shimada Seiya looking at one of the prints during the exhibition launch.

Works of renowned artists such as Noda, Kosuke Kimura, Akira Matsumoto, Saturo Saito, Jiro Takamatsu and Katsuro Yoshida make up the pieces that have been travelling the world since 2017.

The travelling exhibition, organised by the Japan Foundation in Kuala Lumpur and the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, will be held at USM for almost a month before heading to Sabah and then making its way to Nepal.

Guest-of-honour Orikasa Hiroyuki, who is consul-general of Japan in Penang, said the 1970s was the golden age of art in Japan.

“This exhibition features print expressions from the 1970s, as seen in the works of 14 artists who helped develop a print movement in the world of Japanese contemporary art back then.

“There was a strong focus on materials such as print blocks, paper and ink, used to create artworks that were one of a kind.

“These subjective expressions, based on photographic images and matter, greatly expanded the print medium and helped to shape trends in contemporary art as a whole,” he said during the exhibition’s opening at USM’s Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery in George Town.

USM research and innovation deputy vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed believes the exhibition will have a profound impact on those visiting, especially the USM campus community.

“The Consulate-General of Japan and the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur have a very long history with USM, since 2001.

“Collaborative effort in organising such exhibitions will not only strengthen the relationship of both countries, but more importantly allow us to establish meaningful and sustainable cultural exchanges for our students, staff and the public as well.

“Witnessing the creative thoughts and ideas of internationally recognised artists and designers without having to travel outside of the country will broaden their minds and enable them to think creatively,” said Prof Abdul Rahman.

The exhibition is being held at Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery in USM until April 8.

It is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.