IMAMURA, Yoshio
Born: 1948, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Medium: Etching, with Aquatint and Collagraph
After receiving his specialized art education at Atelier Contrepoint in Paris, Mr. Imamura returned to Japan to continue his career. He is particularly known for creating unusual textured works, by employing several different printmaking techniques–etching, aquatint and collagraph– and by using a variety of inks–both satin and glossy in appearance. Also, the artist will on occasion apply platinum, silver, or gold leaf to enhance the image.
The design motifs, while offering some semblance of three dimensionality, are meant to convey the major themes that Imamura develops. He describes these as “the conflicts of everyday life–routine, environment, time and sensitivity.” Each work is done in particularly small edition sizes and is meticulously rendered by the artist in his own studio.
Exhibitions:
1998 International Print Triennial, Finland–Prize winner
1995 Japan Moment, Finland
1994 Krakow International Print Triennial, Poland
1992 “A Prophet is A Stranger in his Own Land”–Six man show, Hankyu Department Store, Tokyo
1990-present College Womens Association of Japan Print Show, Tokyo–Prize Winner 1990
1982-91 Japan Print Association Exhibit, Tokyo–Prize Winner 1989
1990 One man show at The Tolman Collection art gallery, Tokyo
1989 Bharat Bhavan International Print Biennial, India–”Special Prize” Winner
1989 International Miniature Print Biennial, New York–Prize Winner
1989-91 Japan-France Contemporary Art Exhibit–Paris & Tokyo, Prize Winner
1985, 89,93 Wakayama Print Biennial
1978 Japan International Art Exhibit, Tokyo and Kyoto
1976-78 Kodo Art Exhibit, Tokyo
Collections:
Cincinnati Art Museum
Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa, Israel
Museum of Arts and Crafts, Hamburg, Germany
Gallery of New South Wales, Australia
Krakow National Museum, Poland
Singapore National Museus
Suzuka City Museum of Graphic Art, Nagano
photo by Svein Olslund