加藤泉 Izumi Kato
Izumi Kato has established a distinctive artistic vision through a variety of expressive forms, including painting, sculpture, and lithography. Adachi is proud to announce the completion of "Untitled III" and "Untitled IV", the second chapter in his collaboration with traditional woodcut techniques to create contemporary ukiyo-e.
These prints are based on Kato's original works that combine intricate bird illustrations from vintage plastic model kit boxes with his unique artistic style.
During the stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kato significantly expanded his series inspired by plastic model kits. He found particular charm in the warmth and nostalgic appeal of the illustrations depicted on vintage model kit packaging. "Untitled III" and "Untitled IV" bring together these nostalgic bird illustrations and Kato's distinctive human figures, characterized by their primitive yet dynamic vitality, brought to life through the traditional woodcut techniques that gave rise to ukiyo-e.
Please explore this extraordinary collaboration between Izumi Kato, whose refined designs reflect a profound understanding of traditional woodcut printing, and the skilled artisans dedicated to this timeless technique.
List of works
"I want to make a world inside this rectangle (canvas) that can rival the real world in terms of intensity. This is the information I want to put here, that such a world can only exist in this painting.That is what I want to create within that space and not a painting that merely announces that there is a figure within a landscape."-Quote from "A Conversation between Izumi Kato and Robert Storr"
-（Izumi Kato LIKE A ROLLING SNOW BALL, Seigensha Art Publishing,Inc., 2019, page57)
"Collaborating with a workshop producing ukiyo-e was a fulfilling experience for me, and I feel like I've added another drawer to my chest of production techniques. I was of course impressed with the intricate skills involved in ukiyo-e woodcut prints and I see greater possibilities for future collaborations between my art and ukiyo-e techniques. Rather than producing something in the line of a traditional ukiyo-e prints, I believe I can express something that will make ukiyo-e feel even more fresh and new."
Izumi Kato: "Untitled III" & "Untitled IV"
Limited Edition:120
Dimension of picture:53.5×24.5㎝
Dimension of frame:75.3×42.5㎝
Type of print: Woodcut print
Paper used: Echizen kizuki hosho washi
(produced by living national treasure Ichibei Iwano)
Year of production: 2023
Supervision: Izumi Kato Studio,The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
Production: The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints
Delivery: Delivery will begin in mid-December 2024. Delivery of the framed print will be scheduled from late December to January.
November 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – November 28, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (Japan Time)
Izumi Kato, Woodcut Print "UntitledⅢ", "UntitledⅣ"
彫ーCarving process
The artist's attention to details is faithfully reproduced by the carver.
The dynamic and rhythmical lines drawn by Mr. Kato give a powerful vibrancy to his work. The carver is faithful to the artist's vision as he carves out the lines.
摺ーPrinting process
Printing techniques "bokashi" and "zarazuri" give birth to expressive colors
The light and brilliant colors of traditional woodcut prints are produced by using a Baren rubbing pad to rub water-based pigments into the fibers of the paper, which is carefully handcrafted from paper mulberry.
Additionally, printing techniques such as "bokashi" and "zarazuri" were incorporated to create a unique texture that makes it appear as if it was drawn with pastel crayons.
A signature in Mr. Kato's own hand is written in the margin.
Artist Profile
<h3>Izumi Kato（1969-）</h3>
Born in Shimane Prefecture in 1969, Izumi Kato graduated from the Department of Painting at Musashino Art University College of Art and Design in 1992. He is active on the international stage and was invited to International Art Exhibition La Biennale Di Venezia 2007. Major solo exhibitions include Red Brick Art Museum (Beijing, 2018), Fundación Casa Wabi (Puerto Escondido, Mexico, 2019) and an exhibition held simultaneously at two venues, Hara Museum (Tokyo) and Hara Museum Arc (Gunma) in 2019.
Sales of Izumi Kato's new woodcut print "UntitledⅢ" and "UntitledⅣ"
＜Price＞
Unframed print 400,000 yen (excluding tax)
Frame 30,000 yen (excluding tax)
＜Sales＞
Available to selected customers via lottery.
＜Drawing Schedule＞
・Entry Period: November 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – November 28, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (Japan Time)
・Result Announcement: Notification by email around December 6, 2024.
<Shipping Fee>
『無題3』『無題4』2図セット
Set of "UntitledⅢ" and "UntitledⅣ"
| 配送先/Destination | 版画のみ/ Unframed Print | 額付/Framed Print |
| 日本国内 Inside of Japan |
無料/Free | 無料/Free |
| アジア East Asia・Southeast Asia |
¥14,000 | ¥17,000 |
| アメリカ North America |
¥14,800 | ¥22,000 |
| ヨーロッパ・オセアニア Europe・Oceania |
¥14,800 | ¥22,000 |
| 南米・アフリカ・その他 South America, Africa, Other Areas |
¥19,000 | ¥35,000 |
『無題3』『無題4』各図
One design of either “UntitledⅢ” or “UntitledⅣ”
| 配送先/Destination | 版画のみ/ Unframed Print | 額付/Framed Print |
| 日本国内 Inside of Japan |
無料/Free | 無料/Free |
| アジア East Asia・Southeast Asia |
¥8,500 | ¥10,500 |
| アメリカ North America |
¥9,500 | ¥15,000 |
| ヨーロッパ・オセアニア Europe・Oceania |
¥9,500 | ¥15,000 |
| 南米・アフリカ・その他 South America, Africa, Other Areas |
¥15,000 | ¥25,000 |
