Yu
2008
Wood Engraving                                      

Kouki Tsuritani                              
Residence: Toyama, Japan
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

I try to combine the philosophy of traditional Japanese art [such as ukiyo-e, which means ‘floating world’] with traditional European printmaking.

I make black & white mezzotints, photogravures, and wood engravings. I like the rich harmony of monochrome and think it the most sympathetic for expressing the depths of our emotions, and for reflecting the inner view of people who line in a ‘floating’ modern world. I hope that viewers of my works find them interesting and are provoked to feel something of their lost memories.

I use my drawing and carving skills in making the three types of prints I produce: mezzotints, woodblocks, & photogravures. However, I also incorporate photography, either as a starting point for the final image, or, through manipulation, as the basis for my photogravures. The richness in tones of monochrome prints is important, and for me, a key element in the blend of ‘ukiyo-e’ and traditional European printmaking that I am currently working on.

I am a printmaker, and was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1967. I trained in painting and printmaking at Kanazawa College of Art, Kanazawa, Japan, and have exhibited extensively in Japan and in international exhibitions.

Education
Master of Fine Arts [MFA], Kanazawa College of Art, Kanazawa, Japan [1992]

2008
‘Originals 08: The Contemporary Printmaking Show’, Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, United Kingdom
‘VELVET: Mezzotints by Nan Mulder, Stuart Duffin, Kouki Tsuritani & Judith Rothchild’, Edinburgh Printmakers Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland

2007
Edinburgh Printmakers Winter Exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland
‘Prints 2007 in Syogawa’, Syogawa Museum, Toyama, Japan
Premio Acqui, 8th International Biennial of Engraving, Acqui Terme, Italy
Japanese Modern Prints, Kurobe Art Museum, Toyama, Japan
‘Little M’, 6th International Exhibition of Miniatures, Vilnius, Lithuania
1st International Illustration Exhibition of Dictionaries, Teheran, Iran
‘On The Cutting Edge: Contemporary Japanese Prints’, The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
‘Bologna Children’s Book Fair’, Exhibition of Illustration, Bologna, Italy, Also Exhibiting at: Itabashi Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; Otani Memorial Art Museum, Nishinomiya, Japan; Kawara Museum, Takahama, Japan; Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum, Nanao, Japan; & Neverland Picture Book Gallery, Paju, Seoul, Korea