Mimeograph was one of the easiest and most popular printing technologies before and after World War II. It stimulated some people’s creativity and drove them to raise the technique to an art.
Three classical printing methods, relief print, intaglio, and planographic printing, are still valid in the field of art, as woodblock, as copperplate like etching, and as lithography. However, mimeograph has already completed its role as printing method by the development of copy machines, word processors and personal computers. And furthermore, its artistic accomplishment is also being lost in oblivion. That might be because the creators of mimeograph art were at the same time the very bearers of mimeograph printing as an industry.
This exhibition looks back the fact that the mimeograph surely and largely contributed to the publication in the modern times as the closest printing method to the individual. Through the show, we would rediscover its creative aspects, such as printing experiments originated from illustrations, pattern design, and also attractive typography, which is to be fully appreciated throughout the ages.
Leading exhibits are screen prints by SHIMIZU Takejiro (1915-1993), who played an active role in Japan Print Association and Kokugakai (Society for National Painting), besides running his own mimeograph printing factory ‘Kagyu Kobo (literary Snail factory)’ in Wakayama, works by FUKUI Ryonosuke (1923-1986), who created original world of art with mimeograph, and WAKAYAMA Yasouji (1903-1983), who adovocated Sosaku-hanga (creative print making, or prints not for reproduction) with mimeograph. In addition, works by mimeograph artists who set up gropus ‘Shudo-kai’ and ‘Tenno-kai’ around WAKAYAMA Yasouji show the wideness of the activities trying to spread the attractiveness of screen prints originated from mimeograph.
And in parallel with these works, the show introduces materials to indicate activities by numbers of anonymous artists. They set up mimeograph printing factories in various regions, aiming to create each local culture through publishing mimeograph magazines and having contacts with artists in other regions. All these would lead us to look into an unknown history of Japanese modern prints. About 250 works and related materials all together will be on view.

[Events]
Lecture by UENO Hisami (Curator)
Attractiveness of Mimeograph: Physically and Humanly
February 17, (Sun) 14:00-15:30, at Auditorium
Workshop: March 16 (Sat) 13:00-16:00, March 17 (Sun) 10:00-13:00
Instractor: SAKAMOTO Shudoji (Sakamoto Toshado - Mimeograph Factory)
Participants up to 15, booking required
Curator’s Talk: February 24, March 3 and 10. / 14:00-15:00, at Gallery (ticket required)