Lee Ufan
Dialogue 1／Dialogue 2／Dialogue 3
Lee Ufan is an artist who led one of the most important movements in post-war Japanese art, Mono-ha (the “School of Things”). His activities are drawing renewed attention with the opening of the Lee Ufan Museum in Arles, France in the spring of 2022, and a large-scale retrospective exhibition held at the National Art Center, Tokyo in the summer of 2022 and presently in Kobe at Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art.
From the early days of his career as an artist, Mr. Lee has repeatedly attempted to express himself using printing techniques. For him, printmaking is not just a technique of reproduction, but an important means of expression that visualizes the differences that arise in the passage of time and repetition. And now, together with artisans who have inherited traditional woodcut printing, the "Dialogue" series has been produced as woodcut prints.
We hope you will enjoy the new expression of woodcut printing, created through dialogue with materials such as wood and paper, and the relationships between creators.
Dialogue 1
Dialogue 2
Dialogue 3
Dialogue 1／Dialogue 2／Dialogue 3
Comments from the Artist
“I was astonished to hear that the printer, Ms. Kishi, had to print the colors nearly 20 times to bring out the colors in my work. But I see that the layers of color that are created through that process are gentle and subtle, but powerful. Perhaps you could say the visual image has a strong sense of presence. I think that is something that appears when you print over and over again with extremely thin and light tones. Being able to confirm this was an interesting experience for me as well.”
- Limited edition：
- 120 each
- Dimension of image：
- Dialogue 1 67.0×57.0 cm
Dialogue 2 76.0×56.0 cm
Dialogue 3 76.0×56.0 cm - Dimension of frame：
- Dialogue 1 86.5×76.5 cm
original frame
Dialogue 2 95.5×75.5 cm
Dialogue 3 95.5×75.5 cm - Specification of frame：
- wood, acrylic resin
Dialogue 1 Approx. 5.0kg
Dialogue 2 Approx. 5.3kg
Dialogue 3 Approx. 5.3kg - Type of print：
- Woodcut print
- Paper used：
- Echizen kizuki hosho washi (produced by living national treasure Ichibei Iwano)
- Date of production：
- 2022
- Special bonus：
- booklet
- Supervision：
- The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
- Production：
- The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints
Focusing all one's attention on the cutting edge of a knife, as if tracing the breath of the artist.
Traditionally, woodblocks are made of wild cherry, which is hard and has a clear grain.
Wisdom of predecessors and new ingenuity enable all kinds of expressions.
Creating layers of different shades of colors with a brush on a smooth woodblock.
Manipulating the expansion and contraction of moist woodblocks and washi paper.
Particles of pigment are embedded in the fibers of washi paper.
Deep color gradations that combine strength and gentleness.
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.
Skilled carving techniques that express the movement of the artist's brush
The carver uses a kogatana knife to carve various forms on the hard board of wild cherry. Sharp edges are created from the very thinly sharpened edge of the knife. The tension of Mr. Lee Ufan's unwavering brushstrokes is powerfully carved on the woodblock.
Traditional printing techniques that express rich color gradations
In traditional Japanese woodcut printing, pigment particles are embedded into the fibers of Japanese paper using the technique of the printer, realizing vivid colors with a sense of transparency. Deep and gentle color gradations are created by carefully printing in pale colors around 20 times. It is the culmination of craftsmanship that maximizes the properties of the materials.
Photo：Shin Inaba
Lee Ufan
Lee Ufan was born in Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, in 1936. He attended Seoul National University before moving to Japan in 1956 and studied philosophy at Nihon University College of Humanities. Lee is widely known as a leading figure in “Mono-ha” (the “School of Things”). In 1969, his article "From Object to Being" was selected for the Bijutsu Shuppan-sha Art Criticism Award. Major solo exhibitions in recent years include the Yokohama Museum of Art (Japan, 2005), the Guggenheim Museum (US, 2011), the Palace of Versailles (France, 2014), and Center Pompidou Metz (France, 2019). In 2010, the Lee Ufan Museum designed by architect Tadao Ando opened in Naoshima, Kagawa Prefecture. His major publications include The Art of Encounter(1971) and The Art of Margins(2002).
"Dialogue 1", "Dialogue 2" and "Dialogue 3" will be sold to customers selected by a lottery.
If you wish to purchase the work, please enter the draw during the following period. We will notify you of the results of the draw.
Entry Period: From 12 o'clock noon, February 3rd, 2023 to 12 o'clock noon, February 6th, 2023 (Japan time)
*Entry is limited to one per work for each customer, and the possibility of winning is limited to one out of the three works. Please note that customers who enter multiple times will be excluded from the draw. The entry at the Adachi showroom in person is counted as one entry. Therefore no need to enter online if you entered at the showroom.
Dialogue 1
Print 700,000 yen (excluding tax)
Framed 750,000 yen (excluding tax)
Dialogue 2
Print 700,000 yen (excluding tax)
Framed 755,000 yen (excluding tax)
