Ukiyo-e Lecture, Demonstration, and Workshop in Boston and Detroit

One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)
Hiroshige Utagawa
Plum Estate, Kameido (Kameido Umeyashiki), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

The Japan Foundation is presenting a lecture, demonstration, and workshop on Ukiyo-e woodblock prints that are popular worldwide. This program will take place in Boston and Detroit, from February 3 to 11.

The two Ukiyo-e experts to be dispatched are: Yukiko Takahashi, a publisher of traditional woodblock prints and the sixth-generation owner of Takahashi atelier, and woodblock printer Kyoko Hirai. This time, Takahashi will give a lecture on the history and background of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, which influenced great masters of Western art. In the meantime, Hirai will demonstrate traditional printing methods that have been passed to this day. During the workshop, participants will experience traditional Japanese woodblock printing, using Ukiyo-e printmaking tools, such as Japanese rice paper, the disk-shaped pad, and wood blocks.

While Ukiyo-e enjoys great popularity throughout the world, an art museum in Boston has an especially large Ukiyo-e collection and it receives high acclaim. Through discussions with Japanese experts, the event will provide an opportunity for students studying or being interested in the arts　in the Boston and Detroit area, and also for the general public, to experience the pleasures of Ukiyo-e at first hand.

Overview

Boston

Date / Time Tuesday, February 4　1:00p.m.
Contents Lecture, demonstration, and workshop
Venue Tufts University
Date / Time Wednesday, February 5　9:00a.m.
Contents Lecture, demonstration, and workshop
Venue Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Date / Time Wednesday, February 5　2:00p.m.
Contents Lecture, demonstration, and workshop
Venue Boston University

Detroit

Date / Time Friday, February 7　10:30a.m.
Contents Lecture, demonstration, and workshop
Venue University of Michigan
Date / Time Sunday, February 9　1:00p.m.
Contents Lecture and demonstration
Venue Detroit Institute of Arts

Profile

Yukiko Takahashi

Publisher of traditional woodblock prints
The sixth-generation owner of the Takahashi atelier

She was born the daughter of a publisher of traditional woodblock print who operated a business that was established in the late 1850s, and she succeeds as owner of the Takahashi atelier in the sixth generation. Besides ukiyo-e prints, she works on the reproduction of the Japanese style paintings, and contemporary paintings as well by using the technique of traditional woodblock printing. She introduces ukiyo-e at the educational institutions, etc., and plans exhibitions of ukiyo-e.

Kyoko Hirai

Woodblock printer

She graduated from the printmaking course at university. After graduation, she studied under Mr. Keizo Sato, a printer for the print technique of Japanese woodblock prints. She now is acting as a printer.

[Contact Us]

The Japan Foundation
Americas Section, Arts and Culture Dept. 
Person in charge: Kawato (Ms.)
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6061

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