Shusui Taki
UTAMARO of the 21st Century
and his sensual world
Shusui Taki, the traditional woodblock artist
has earned himself the title, *Utamaro of the 21st century.
He has won numerous prizes, acclaim and awards
for his works on four continents — Europe, Asia, Australia
and America, culminating in the greatest accolade of all, to have
one of his woodblock print — 'Scattered Chrysanthemum' 1991
— added to the collection of the British Museum, in London,
making him the only living Japanese to have ever achieved this feat.
He’s listed in the 2002 Artist of the year
directory and has had no less than five television program portraying
his life and his art. Almost single-handedly, his passion, diligence
and dedication is keeping the ancient traditional art of the woodblock
print alive, in a modern world that delights in pop culture.
Born in Nagoya in 1938 — his talent and passion
for art was recognized at an early age. "Even though I loved
art, after graduating from High school I became a salary man. Later
I started my own business. One day I walked into a secondhand art
shop and spotted a woodblock print from the Edo period. The moment
I saw it, the impulse to become a traditional creative woodblock
artist was so strong, that I went home and consulted with my family
about the future. They were totally supportive of what I had to
say, so I quit my job and changed the course of my life, to become
an artist."
The three important stages involved in this art
— drawing, carving and printing — require an assortment
of tools. In the past, several artisans worked on one picture. Shusui
Taki undertakes to do it all himself, which allows him to remain
true to his original image and artistic creativity.
 Taki's
first series of prints is titled, Young maidens — 12 months,
a collection of twelve young beauties each portraying one month
of the year, against a seasonal background. In the beginning he
could not afford to hire models, so he enlisted the help of his
neighbors daughters, his wife and Ginza no Mama San to pose for
him.
At the 1991 Japan Festival in England, his stylish
beauties were described as: 'Japanese contemporary art for the furthering
of international peace through cultural exchange and development.'
"Man's ultimate dream woman," is how
he describes his beauties, whether fully dressed, semi-clad or nude.
A cross between a damsel in distress and a temptress, they possess
the modesty and shyness of inexperience mixed with the promise of
forbidden fruit.
Since time immemorial artists have created images
of beautiful women. Therefore, he wanted to give a special perspective
to his pictures, which is how the idea to have a tattooed series
came into being. A tattoo on a beautiful woman can be an erotic
ornament, it can give the body an interesting sexual angle and seeing
a tattoo on a naked body demands a response.
The response around the world to Shusui Taki has
been very encouraging. The tattooed series has picked up many prestigious
awards, such as the French 'Salon de Paris' prize, and the elegant,
Scattered Chrysanthemum forms part of the British Museum collection
in London.Shusui is currently working on his new series, 'Elegance
in the Heian period' (794-1192).
This period produced an exquisitely unique and
refined Japanese culture that bore only a slight resemblance to
Chinese prototypes. During this time, a highly cultivated circle
of ladies-in-waiting, created narratives of courtly romance and
observation of daily life, of which one of the masterpieces is The
Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. It is this story depicting the
life and loves of Prince Hikaru Genji that is the focus of Taki's
new venture.
The recently completed second picture is of Rokujyo-nomiyasu-dokoro
a widow who is much older in years to Genji. Careful attention has
been paid to the finest details. The print shows her semi-clad with
the petals of the hagi flower, gently fluttering down in the background.
In this semi-dressed state, her kimono is off her shoulders exposing
one breast, a sign that her lover, Genji, has just left her after
an evening of passion."I started this project hoping to express
the innermost emotions of the characters, striving to carve elegant
lines to enhance the subtle emotions involved."
Ukiyo-e, is the word used for the traditional
woodblock print in Japan. The word ukiyo orginated from a Buddhism
term to mean 'this transitory world' — we live life, then we
die. The '-e' means a picture or drawing.
Taki's numerous accolades and prizes from around
the world is testament that this is one artistic tradition that
will not be transitory, but that will live forever.
*NB. Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806) is famed for his superb woodblock
prints
http://www.mms-net.com/ukiyoe/
Tel/Fax: 0586-77-3054
|
