TSUCHIYA, Masao

Born: 1913 in Tokyo, Japan, died in 2008
Medium: Kappa-ban, or Japanese stencil

Now an elder statesman of Japanese printmakers, Masao Tsuchiya lives in Kanagawa Prefecture. He was a student of the great Shiko Munakata, and his work shows the influence of that master. Rather than woodblock, Tsuchiya uses the traditional fabric dyeing technique of kappa-ban, or stencil-resist, to create his playful imagery. The stencil is cut out of a paper that has been soaked in persimmon juice to give it strength, and which also allows for clean cuts without fraying. The artist applies the stencil to the printing paper, and covers the entire sheet with a rice paste resist. When the paste is dry, the stencil is removed and the inks are applied over the paper. When that has dried, the rice paste is washed off. This technique allows the artist to print the solid areas of the stencil. Because of the frailty of these stencils, Tsuchiya always does quite small editions+often only twenty, and never over fifty prints in any one edition.

Most of the themes Tsuchiya selects are drawn from old Chinese poems and tales, and sometimes incorporate the calligraphic kanji of the story. But even if the tale is not familiar, the viewer discovers it with joy. In each the figures display grace and a special gaiety as they frolic across the page. Whether it is children playing, famous kami deities, or a beautiful princess, the artist captures motion at a single moment of time, permitting us to savor his discoveries, and to relish his understanding of human nature.

Exhibitions:
CWAJ Print Show, Tokyo - since 1990
Kanagawa-one man exhibits
Tokyo - numerous one person shows

Collections:
Hamburg City Museum
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia
National Museum of Modern Art, New Zealand