New works by Katsunori Hamanishi The fine art of the Mezzotint

6099 Stirling Road Suite 107
Davie, FL 33314
(954) 533-3974

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New works by Katsunori Hamanishi

The fine art of the Mezzotint

Window-No.17
© 2008 Katsunori Hamanishi

Where: Art & Frame and The Williams Gallery

Dates: Saturday July 12 through Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Opening Reception: Saturday July 12, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (free to the public)

Location:
6099 Stirling Rd Suite 107
Davie, FL 33314

(Triangle Professional Building)

Phone: (954) 533-3974
Email: fineartandframes@earthlink.net

Gallery Hours:
Mon. - Sat. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Katsunori Hamanishi
Like the surrealistic paintings of Dali and Magritte, Hamanishi's mezzotints combine nature and abstraction. Born in Hokkaido, Hamanishi studied painting and graduated from Tokai University with a degree in Art in 1973 and next studied at the University of Pennsylvania on a grant from the Cultural Affairs Agency, 1987-88. He has won numerous prizes for his work, including the Ibiza International Print Biennial, the Grenchen International Triennial in Switzerland and the Valparaiso International Exhibition in Chile.

Now living in the Tokyo area, Hamanishi’s primary focus is printmaking. His works are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum and the MOMA in New York; the Art Institute, Chicago; the Library of Congress, DC; The Morikami Museum, Florida; Taipei Fine Arts National Museum; Krakow National Museum; Osaka National Museum of Art; and others. In September 2004 he was honored in a two-man show along with venerated mezzotint artist Yozo Hamani at the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts, where he presented a demonstration of his own techniques.

About the Exhibit
The subjects of Hamanishi’s work embody traditional Japanese symbols and images combined with a contemporary interpretation. His technique as seen in some of his newest work, "Window #3" portrays classical Japanese architectural motifs in a contemporary idiom. The brilliance of gold leaf, the subtle quality of mica dust and the refined texture of the mezzotint lend a magical quality to his prints.

Few contemporary artist have the time and patience to rock a plate with a mezzotint rocker long enough to produce the velvety black impression so characteristic of the best work. Hamanishi explains: "It is patience that is necessary to produce the jet-black texture peculiar to mezzotint; the foundation of infinite tones from black to white. This is similar to the grounding of an oil painting before the image is applied. To prepare the copper plates may take 10 to 13 hours using a process called burring. A comb-like tool is rocked methodically, vertically, horizontally and diagonally over the plate until it is completely covered with impressions made by its teeth. It is after the plate is burred that the drawing of the image into the prepared surface begins".

One of Hamanishi’s recent mezzotints “Window #1” recently become part of the permanent collection of the Morikami Museum in Del Beach, Florida and will be on display there over the summer.