ARICHI, Yoshito

Born: 1949, in Hiroshima
Medium: Etching, aquatint, embossing and lithograph mixed-media fans

A 1972 graduate of Nihon University College of Art, Mr. Arichi has been a longtime Japanese printmaker. His artwork has always focused on abstract or nonrepresentational themes. Further studies were done in England, Australia, and the USA. He has developed his techniques while simultaneously sharing his expertise through teaching: he a professor of printmaking at Nihon University.

Often, the artist has included discs, squares and other geometric forms which develop dimensionality on the page. This effect is heightened with the use of texture. Sometimes Arichi will print with uninked plates to create different types of embossing on a heavy paper. Or he might choose to print on a delicate hand-made washi paper which is then collaged onto the backing. Shadows are often implied with the use of gradations in color. All these techniques combine to give us dynamic prints alive with both color and movement.

In 2007 the artist began two new series featured in a special exhibit at the Ren Brown Collection. One is a set of small prints exploring abstracted flowers. The other is a group of unique mixed-media fans. Papers are printed and embossed, then collaged over natural twigs. A small cherry branch is used for the handle. The artist has framed many of these exciting mixed-media works in Tokyo. The fans are mounted on black silk fabric and displayed in clear plastic boxes.

Collections:

Queensland Art Gallery, Australia
Valparaiso City Museum, Chile
Higashi Hiroshima City Museum, Japan
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia
Fine Arts Municipal Museum of Valparaiso, Chile
Smith College, Massachusetts
British Museum, London

Exhibitions:

Japan Print Association, Tokyo
CWAJ Exhibition, Tokyo (since 1980)
Cabo Frio International Print Biennial, Brazil (1983 Special Jury Prize)
Kobe Print Biennial, Japan (1998 prize winner)
Krakow International Print Triennial, Poland
International Triennial of Original Colored Prints: Grenchen, Switzerland
International Biennial of Graphic Art: Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
Bharat Bhavan International Biennial of Prints: Bhopal, India (1997 Honorable Mention)
British International Print Biennial, Bradford (1984 Purchase Prize)