Yusuke Hanai
" Untitled 1 "
The works of Yusuke Hanai are created in a unique style that fuses Japanese aesthetics with American retro illustrations. His art is like a cynical yet humorous story.
This work is filled with the playfulness of Mr. Hanai, who took 16 small woodcut prints depicting daily scenes of ordinary people, framed them individually, and laid them out to create one three-dimensional work. Each of the 16 small woodcut prints is full of the warmth unique to woodcut prints that make use of the grain of woodblocks and the texture of Japanese paper.
" Untitled 1 "
Limited edition: 80
Dimension of frame: 55×64×8㎝ (original frame)
Specification of frame: Approx. 5.4kg, wood, acrylic resin
Type of print: Woodcut print
Paper used: Echizen kizuki hosho washi
(produced by living national treasure Ichibei Iwano)
Date of publication: August, 2021
Supervision: GALLERY TARGET
The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
Production: The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints
Delivery: Delivery will begin from the mid December 2021
This product will be sold only in the final form, which is a combination of 16 works.
Characters with expressions unique to the works of Mr. Hanai are carved into the woodblocks.
For improved production efficiency, multiple works are laid out on one woodblock, considering the color scheme and the size of the works.
Multiple parts with the same color are printed at the same time.
Printed individually by hand, each ukiyo-e displays the vivid colors that are blended by the printer and are a unique feature of woodcut prints.
Japanese washi paper printed by allocating two pieces to one woodblock.
Japanese washi paper printed by allocating multiple pieces to one woodblock.
16 individually framed small woodcut prints are combined to create one three-dimensional work.
The ukiyo-e is printed on Echizen kizuki hosho washi (a unique kind of Japanese paper) handmade from 100% paper-mulberry fibers by Ichibei Iwano, a living national treasure.
Focusing all of his attention on the point of his knife, the carver creates smooth, elegant lines.
Mr. Hanai depicts casual everyday scenes of ordinary people. The carver faithfully carves the facial expressions of the people while deciphering the intentions of the artist Hanai. The carver's intense focus and precision is required for the work of carving delicate lines with a single knife.
Light and brilliant colors are born from materials and techniques that are unique to Japan.
The light and brilliant colors of traditional woodcut prints are produced by using a Baren rubbing pad to rub water-based paints into the fibers of the paper, which is carefully handcrafted from paper mulberry. The printer feels the world view of Mr. Hanai's work as he mixes and prints the colors on top of one another.
Yusuke Hanai
Born 1978
Illustrator / Artist
Around 2006, Hanai started showing his works at The Surf Gallery, CA. The following year, Hanai participated in a group show called “THE HAPPENING.” Since then, he has been showing his works in New York, Sydney, Tokyo, London and Paris.
As an illustrator, Hanai provides art works to brands such as VANS, NIXON and BEAMS.
He is actively involved in many projects both in and outside of Japan.
This edition will be sold to customers selected by drawing lots.
If you wish to purchase the work, please enter the drawing during the following period.
We will notify you with the results of the drawing.
Entry Period: November 27 (3 p.m.)– December 2 (12 p.m.), 2021 (Japan Time)
*Entering a drawing is limited to only one product per customer.
Please note that customers who select more than one will be excluded from the drawing.
