Articles written by Madison Folks
Articles written by
Madison Folks
True Colors: Sebastian Masuda
In his second New York exhibition, Sebastian Masuda invites his viewer to trade the grayscale of daily life for a movingly vibrant spectrum of color. Through dynamic multimedia collages, this truly immersive exhibition extols Masuda's message of "colorful rebellion" against the gray, dark, and disharmony of the world.
Then and Now: Hiroshige's Landscapes
As a master of the landscape print, Hiroshige captures Edo-period Japan through series such as One Hundred Famous Views of Edo and Famous Views of the 60-Odd Provinces. How have these famous places fared as destinations in the 21st century? Looking to four prints from the exhibition Hiroshige's Landscapes, let's check in.
Demimonde: The Floating World and Toulouse-Lautrec
From masterworks of ukiyo-e, to Toulouse-Lautrec's large-scale posters and Le Café Concert set, the exhibition Demimonde: The Floating World and Toulouse-Lautrec invites you to explore the parallel demimondes of fin-de-siècle Paris and Edo-period Japan.
What is Sosaku Hanga?
In the early 20th century, two distinct modern Japanese print movements emerged. The Sosaku Hanga movement honed in on the artist and the process of making. The knife, the ink, the block, the paper—each material was integral to the artist's experience. This emphasis on the individual and artistic autonomy matured throughout the movement and continues to course throughout the Japanese printmaking community today.
Decoding Ukiyo-e: Standard Sizes
While ukiyo-e were printed in a variety of sizes, each format adhered to a standardized sizing system shaped by both technical and social factors. This determination begins with two of the primary materials of woodblock printing: the woodblock and the paper.
The Great Wave: Contemporary Talents of Japan
Held in conjunction with the inaugural Ronin|Globus Artist-in-Residence Program, the exhibition The Great Wave: Images to Support Japan Society's Japan Earthquake Relief Fund spans a wide range of media and mindsets. Featuring Keisuke "OZ" Yamaguchi, this exhibition presents diverse reactions to defining moments in contemporary life: Japan's recent earthquakes and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
A World Between - The Life of Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Regarded as the last of the great masters of ukiyo-e, Yoshitoshi worked during this era of dramatic cultural and economic transformation. Through his stunning woodblock prints, he made sense of a transitioning world with a familiar medium. His work expresses the pervasive atmosphere of uncertainty that plagued his country and exorcises the demons of social and political upheaval.
Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992)
Ronin Gallery is pleased to represent the private collection of the Mori family estate in the exhibition Yoshitoshi Mori (1898–1992). From kappazuri-e and woodblock prints, to the artist’s sketchbook and select original paintings, this exhibition explores the diverse oeuvre of this pivotal member of the Japanese sosaku hanga, or “new print,” movement. Many pieces in this unique collection are one-of-a-kind.
HOKUSAI: Great Art, Small Sizes
Before the Great Wave crested white and Red Fuji broke the horizon, Hokusai's petite masterpieces whispered their intricate detail with an enchanting intimacy. Ronin Gallery is pleased to present a collection of these early works, dating between 1790 and 1822.
BAN HUA: Chinese Woodblock Prints Post-1980
Ronin Contemporary is pleased to present Ban Hua: Chinese Woodblock Prints Post-1980, an exhibition exploring some of China's most exciting contemporary printmakers. The works on view come both from an important European collection and straight from the studio of the innovative artist Gu Zhijun.
Ink, Banditry and Bushido: Otokodate (Part 2)
Adapted from the 14th century Chinese classic, Shuihuzhuan (Stories of the Water Margin), the Suikoden resounded with Edo's emergent middle class. While these legendary characters starred on the page and stage, the otokodate brought the rebel warrior to life in the streets.
Transposing Genji: From Prince to Playboy
As literacy soared during the 19th century, Murasaki Shikibu's 11th century classic Tale of Genji enjoyed a renewed popularity. Yet it was not quite Murasaki's shining prince garnering the attention. Instead, the tale got a modern makeover through Ryutei Tanehiko's Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji (A Rustic Genji by a Fraudulent Murasaki).
Brushes, Brooms and Talons: Tales of Hokusai
Hokusai possessed an inherent sense of drama and a flair for public spectacle. Though many of his early works take the delicate, intimate form of surimono (lavish, privately commissioned prints), the following tales reveal the boundless nature of his talents. Whether he painted with a brush, a broom, or rooster talons, Hokusai stunned his audience with his daring.