Exhibition organised by the Centre International de Rencontres Culturelles
"In Praise of the Trees" is a visual and poetic celebration of the spirit of nature by artist Naoko Matsubara.
What is Japanese printmaking?
Japanese printmaking is an ancient art form that emerged in Japan in the 17th century. Originally, it consisted of Buddhist woodcuts. The very first woodcut printed in Japan was produced by Koei in 1225 and is entitled the Lotus Sutra. Combining elegance and simplicity, it is based on a technique of wood engraving and reproduction on Indian ink paper, enabling large-scale reproduction of motifs. Japanese prints are characterised by their fine compositions, delicate colours and varied themes, ranging from majestic landscapes to scenes of everyday life.
This art form, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, remains a living testimony to the country's history and philosophy. The Japanese name for the print is "ukiyo-e" 浮世絵, literally meaning images of the floating world. It is a name with Buddhist roots, and in particular emphasises the only thing certain at the time, which was the impermanence of things.
Naoka Matsubara
Born in Tokushima, Japan, in 1937, Noako Matsubara is a celebrated Japanese-Canadian printmaker. Her work can be found in the collections of many museums around the world. Although she has lived outside Japan for most of her adult life, Naoko Matsubara uses traditional Japanese printmaking techniques and materials to create
woodcuts of trees, landscapes and musical artists.
She studied at Kyoto University of the Arts and went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on a Fulbright scholarship, where she obtained her MFA in 1962.
As a student, Matsubara developed a method of creating prints by carving directly into the block of wood without prior sketching, and her expressive use of the chisel became a signature of her work. Using a variety of woods as well as water- and oil-based paints, Matsubara is able to achieve a variety of visual effects; his prints on Japanese washi paper range from simple black-and-white prints to polychrome images made with several blocks of wood.
polychrome images using several blocks.
The exhibition features 28 woodcuts from his 'In Praise of Trees' portfolio.
Each print represents a single tree or a quality associated with trees, such as hardness, strength
each print represents a single tree or a quality associated with trees, such as hardness, strength, stability and vitality, with a corresponding poem.
Visits by appointment.
