Interview with mokuhanga artist Tsutsumi Asuka san
Q1: Please tell us about your exhibition "space/time/dialogue" - The unfinished dialogue with Toma House -
Tsutsumi san:
My solo exhibition at the Toma House this time is a very grand and dramatic exhibition, including the space itself. All artworks are displayed to match each space, I light up my artworks and room. The artworks and the space resonate with each other with this display arrangement, the viewers will travel back and forth between the past that began in the world of myths long time ago, to the present that is connected to it, and to the future that no one has ever seen. As the title suggests, it can be said that "space/time/dialogue" is expressed.
Q2: When looking closely at your prints, there are a lot of sophisticated details such as the very fine, thin carvings, and your signature-like organic shapes lines. We'd like to know more about all these details that are so unique to your art.
Tsutsumi san:
It all started when I wanted to use a carving knife to express it in the same way that I use a brush to draw a touch. Because I had a sense of incongruity in drawing with a brush. Afterwards I realized that it was the difference between the direct technique (painting) and the indirect technique (printmaking).
Q3: What's the best way to see your artwork?
Tsutsumi san:
When looking at my artworks, I’m always asking, “What did you see, what did you feel, and what were you moved and touched by?"
Q4: How do you combine photography/inkjet to your printmaking?
Tsutsumi san:
It is not a work like a collage, my aim is to combine printmaking, photography, painting and video together just like the world which I see and feel. About the technique, first, I printed Japanese paper Awagami with inkjet printing and Japanese paper Ganpi（Very thin and transparent paper ）with woodcut rubbing printing. Next, I pasted printed Ganpi on printed Awagami with starch paste.
Q5: You have big love for plants, how do they relate to your life, or even to your artistic creations? Are there any other essential things or hobbies important to you as an artist?
Tsutsumi san:
Plants always give me surprises, discoveries and moved. It's a very important for me as an artist. Because they give me various inspirations such as colors, shapes, light and vitality. Travel is also important. It gives me a stimulus that is different from my daily life.
Q6: What are you up to the next?
Tsutsumi san:
Narasarashi provided by Toma house was a very interesting material. Normally, I would not choose to print on such a rough cloth, nor would I choose cloth as printing material. It was a wonderful experience for me to meet this material in this way. This time, I made to use this cloth two artworks that looks like a craft, but I would like to make it to a work similar to my printing artwork using photographs. I’m sure it would also be interesting to have an exhibition (for example, an installation) at Toma House that makes use of the translucency of this cloth