Mao Yamaguchi - Woodblock Prints

Mao Yamaguchi, who works as a painter, woodblock artist and Illustrator, is well known for his series of humanlike cat paintings and woodblock prints. Mao-neko, a cat that walks on two legs and exists with people appeared in Japanese Art & Culture scene in the late ‘80s.

Hiromart Gallery presents, Mao Yamaguchi’s solo-exhibition “Through the eyes of Mao-neko”, with the latest woolblock prints made for the show - Mao etched his cynical point of view with humor.

Through the eyes of Mao-neko

March 16 thru. April 15, 2012

Artist:                                                   Mao Yamaguchi

Hours:                                                  1 to 7 pm, Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (or by appointment)

                                                                               *We’ll be OPEN on March 20th, Vernal Equinox Day

Artist Attendance:                                  March 16th, 17th, 21st, 31st and April 15th

Opening Reception with the Artist:           Friday March 16th, from 6 pm

Concept

From old times, Yaoyorozuno kami (Gods) lives in Japan, maybe they are hard to see nowadays but they exist. Tokyo and people are manipulated by mighty power of Technology and Economy so that Yaoyorozuno kami are getting hard to find. For 13 million people, 8 million gods live in Tokyo. Isn’t it incredible?

I will cynically make the uniqueness of the city life through a view of Mao-neko. This cat, Mao-neko is not to be underestimated, it expresses those feelings we all used to have, such as warmth, honesty, loneliness and madness through his wicked eyes.

Born in Chiba, in 1958. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, painting, in 1984.

In the same year of the graduation, his artwork accepted for the Japan and Culture Association’s Japan Illustration Awards. His woodblcok print titled “Udezumou (arm wrestling)” won a prize at the Choice’s new face of the year in 1987, and his sculpture accepted for the Objet Tokyo in 1989. Overseas, he received the prizes at the ADC Awards, New York, the TDC Awards and the London International Advertising Awards in 1993, and received the honor at the Biennale of Asian Illustration in 2002.

His debut solo-show was held in 1986. Since then his works, Woodblock prints, Sculptures, Acrylic and Oil paintings, exhibited numerous solo and group shows. He also has worked in various art forms such as TV commercials, book covers and picture books. He taught woodblock prints at Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design as a special lecture, and also started the block print class at NHK Culture Center since 2011.

Most recent, his large-sized exhibition with over 300 artworks was held by Chiba citizen’s gallery Inage in January 2012 and have well-received. 

(Short BIO)

1984  Graduated Tokyo Zokei University, Painting

1984  Accepted for the Japan and Culture Association’s Japan Illustration Awards

1986  Accepted for The Choice

1987  Accepted for The Choice, A prize at The Choice’s new face of the year

1988  A prize at the Crescent Competition

1989  Accepted for the Objet Tokyo

1991  A prize at the 42nd All Japan Calendar Competition, A new face award at the Japan Illustrator’s Association Annual 1991

1993  The prizes at the ADC Awards, New York, the TDC Awards and the London International Advertising Awards

1999  Opens the class at Asahi Culture Center, Yokohama

2000  Special lecture at Nagoya Zokei University

2002  A honor at the Biennale of Asian Illustration

2009  Accepted for the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava

2011  Opens the class at NHK Culture Center, Chiba

Left to Right: Tobibako (Vaulting Box), Kanchigai shita hitobito (The people who misunderstand), 2012

Image on Top titled: Yuuki aru hitobito (The Brave People), 2012

Supported by: 

The article on the exhibition is published in Yomiuri Shimbun (Newspaper) dated March 16, 2012.

Please contact us for information and availability on the artworks: info(at)hiromartgallery.com

*For media inquiries and further information please contact us.