Rainy Day Update
Today is an extremely rainy and humid day. The office is fairly quiet and slow due to the current 4H Conference in the US so I thought I:d take this chance to update a little bit about some of my projects.
The first project is the most important and also the biggest project of the year for me; the cultural project. Each year, the LEX intern must decide on an area of culture they find most interesting, or most passionate about since they will be dedicating their free time researching it throughout the year. Past interns have done projects such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, and so on. Since my major is Printmaking, I thought I'd be worthwhile to study Japanese woodblock printmaking since is a very unique printing method. I've started taking a mokuhanga class every other week to learn this process and hope to develop a solid portfolio of images reflecting my year living in Tokyo. I also want to investigate Japanese aesthetics by researching about Japanese art history to gain a better understanding of contemporary Japanese Art.
I hope my project will include a paper describing my research into Japanese Aesthetic taste and contemporary art as well as an exhibition of my sketches and prints made during my stay here.
Before I came to Japan I made a brainstorming list of questions to think about and ask while I'm in Tokyo. I broke it down into 4 different sections. Art Education, Contemporary Art, Practicing Art, Awareness and Appreciation.
Art ED
-observation (if possible)
- Role of urbanization and materialism
- Inspiration
Practicing Art In Tokyo (Japan in general too but focus on Tokyo)
- Public Patronage (collectors, casual purchasers, gallery and museum revenue)
- Japanese vs. foreign
In addition to this I've been doing some research about Japanese art history through the Internet, a few books and by going to museums. I'd like to visit more museums but I'm usually very busy during the weekends but I think November will provide me more opportunities to get out and hit the museums and galleries.
I started my moku hanga class last week and it proved to be a bit of a challenge since my teacher doesn't speak any Japanese but I was able to work through the tough phrases to get an understand of what was going on. Although, since I've been studying printmaking for 2 years, I understand a lot of what:s going on and what he:s describing even though i don'tunderstand the Japanese. But I have a hard time explaining to my teacher what I do and don't understand. I find that he goes over things that I already know more than things i don'tunderstand. I hope to get better at asking questions. But I was really excited when I convinced him to show me how to cut the kento registration mark even though we are still in our drawing and transferring stage. Since our classes meet every other week, this Sunday I plan on starting to cut my blocks. Japanese printmaking requires a harder type of wood than I'm used to using in the states so I expect the cutting to take longer than I'm used to (especially since my thumb is still sore from a bicycle injury that occurred about 2 months ago) However, the blocks are fairly small but my first design is a bit complex.
my first design is an image i developed in the states but I think it:s best to take an old (well thought over image) to start with as I gather sketches of my surroundings. I'm still unsure of a thesis of which to base my paper and artworks around, but i think in time these things will become clear as they come to the surface more.
Well I hope you enjoyed my update about my culture project
next time I'll tell you about kokurika :)
that's all for now
ja ne!
kinoko chan
The first project is the most important and also the biggest project of the year for me; the cultural project. Each year, the LEX intern must decide on an area of culture they find most interesting, or most passionate about since they will be dedicating their free time researching it throughout the year. Past interns have done projects such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, and so on. Since my major is Printmaking, I thought I'd be worthwhile to study Japanese woodblock printmaking since is a very unique printing method. I've started taking a mokuhanga class every other week to learn this process and hope to develop a solid portfolio of images reflecting my year living in Tokyo. I also want to investigate Japanese aesthetics by researching about Japanese art history to gain a better understanding of contemporary Japanese Art.
I hope my project will include a paper describing my research into Japanese Aesthetic taste and contemporary art as well as an exhibition of my sketches and prints made during my stay here.
Before I came to Japan I made a brainstorming list of questions to think about and ask while I'm in Tokyo. I broke it down into 4 different sections. Art Education, Contemporary Art, Practicing Art, Awareness and Appreciation.
Art ED
- Ask about art classes throughout school (k-12)
- talk with art teachers on school visits (kokurika)
-observation (if possible)
- knowledge of art history (public)
- Japanese craft vs. fine art (does the boundary exist?)
- Past Art Movements
- Role of urbanization and materialism
- Inspiration
Practicing Art In Tokyo (Japan in general too but focus on Tokyo)
- studio space availability and sizes (how does this effect the ability to produce work)
- cost of art supplies
- How to display art : difficulties, application process, availability, cost
- Making a living as a full time vs. part time artist, how to apply for grants
- How do Japanese people respond to "artist" as a profession
- Inspirations : art historical, day to day experience....
- how do the Japanese support the arts?
- Public Patronage (collectors, casual purchasers, gallery and museum revenue)
- How often do most people view art?
- Japanese vs. foreign
- Out side of the museums, where can one find art in Tokyo?
- well known contemporary artists
In addition to this I've been doing some research about Japanese art history through the Internet, a few books and by going to museums. I'd like to visit more museums but I'm usually very busy during the weekends but I think November will provide me more opportunities to get out and hit the museums and galleries.
I started my moku hanga class last week and it proved to be a bit of a challenge since my teacher doesn't speak any Japanese but I was able to work through the tough phrases to get an understand of what was going on. Although, since I've been studying printmaking for 2 years, I understand a lot of what:s going on and what he:s describing even though i don'tunderstand the Japanese. But I have a hard time explaining to my teacher what I do and don't understand. I find that he goes over things that I already know more than things i don'tunderstand. I hope to get better at asking questions. But I was really excited when I convinced him to show me how to cut the kento registration mark even though we are still in our drawing and transferring stage. Since our classes meet every other week, this Sunday I plan on starting to cut my blocks. Japanese printmaking requires a harder type of wood than I'm used to using in the states so I expect the cutting to take longer than I'm used to (especially since my thumb is still sore from a bicycle injury that occurred about 2 months ago) However, the blocks are fairly small but my first design is a bit complex.
my first design is an image i developed in the states but I think it:s best to take an old (well thought over image) to start with as I gather sketches of my surroundings. I'm still unsure of a thesis of which to base my paper and artworks around, but i think in time these things will become clear as they come to the surface more.
Well I hope you enjoyed my update about my culture project
next time I'll tell you about kokurika :)
that's all for now
ja ne!
kinoko chan
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