z u i h i t s u 随筆

Cyanotype printing experiments

I haven't posted in my blog for quite some time...

You can view images of my current explorations with cyanotypes (sun printing) by visiting my website:

http://dennishumphrey.wixsite.com/artphoto

I update the Alternative Photography area of my website quite regularly.

Dispersed | Dispersé

Watercolour over cyanotype on Fabriano Artistico

5.5” x 7.5”

Taipei Exhibition: 2017.10.16-29

Tokyo: Final few days

This week, I relaxed after the exhibition. I met up with a few friends.

Tak

Sei

Daiki

I'll be returning to Vancouver on Sunday, after a month in Tokyo.

It's been a great experience. I had the opportunity to live in a condo (rather than a hotel) - more like home, with kitchenette, laundry, etc. I also showed my work to many people and made several new friends with whom I will continue to communicate.

Tokyo exhibition: Dance in gallery on Thursday

On Thursday, my friend Yukio Konishi from Kobe will be performing a traditional kamigatamai dance in the gallery space for my " Wood Nymph and the Artist" exhibition. Please see details below.

I'm so looking forward to his interpretation of Kurokami. The theme, mood and hand gesturez, as well as the accompanying shakuhachi flute fit in very weelwith the wood nymph story. I will post pictures tomorrow.

If you are in the neighbourhood, please drop by the gallery at 17:00!

Tokyo exhibition: Bouquets of flowers

On Monday, a beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived for me at Place M Gallery from our friend Zuimei Okuyama.

Thanks so much, Zuimei. He also helped to install the show Sunday night and visited the gallery th with his friend on Monday.

Kind gestures of support that are very much appreciated!

A lovely bouquet of flowers awaited me when I arrived at the gallery today. Thanks to Gary Tsui and Alex for the thoughtful gesture and their kind wishes.

I'm looking forward to seeing them both on Thursday when they visit my show!

Tokyo exhibition: Setup last night

We set up the exhibition last night at 19:00 at Photo Gallery Place M in the Mini gallery. James and his friend Zuimei helped to install the prints, hang the kimon and communicate in Japanese.

Several persons helped to frame the prints and hang the kimono.

All went very well. They knew what they were oing since they do this every week, along with exhibition take down. Courteous, efficient and professional.

The show will be open every day from 12:00-19:00 until Sunday, October 30.

Tokyo exhibition: Gallery layout

Here's how I intend to lay out my pieces on the four walls of the Mini Gallery at Place M.

Tokyo exhibition: Write me a haiku poem

During the exhibition next week, I will be inviting gallery attendees to submit their Japanese or English haiku poems based on one or more of the eight visual 'Artist haiku' prints that will be on display.

The 'Artist haiku' series follows the artist as she explores the woods surrounding her home and studio.

After the show, I will prepare a digital booklet with the eight images and all the poems that were submitted. I'll send everyone who participated a copy of the PDF booklet.

Even though you may not be able to attend the show in Tokyo, you can participate in the experience by submitting a haiku. View the eight images in the online slideshow:

http://dennishumphrey.wix.com/artphoto

Each image is a triptych, divided into 3 panels that evoke the structure of a 27-syllable English haiku. The first line should contain 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables and the third 5 syllables.

Here's an example of a haiku based on 'Artist haiku 2':

Light bathing through spores

On a bed of fiddled ferns

Fluffy pillowed dreams

Walk along with the artist and feel her environment.

Please send me by email one or more of your haiku poems, indicating the image your haiku relates to.

Here's information on how to write a haiku poem:

http://m.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem

Mostly though, just have fun!

"id" exhibition at the matchbaco gallery

I'm visiting as many exhibitions as I can while in Tokyo. There are many shows to choose from.

I was drawn to the oil paintings by Mariko Matsushita 松下まり子, another young Japanese artist whose work resonated with me. She uses thick, spontaneous brush strokes in red, purple and flesh tones. Sensuality, death and memory seem to emanate from the blurred, undefined faces and often gender-less bodies of her portraits. Quite riveting at times.

I spoke briefly to Ken-ichi Nakahashi, the director of the small gallery in the shinjuku area. He will be attending my show next week.

Met exhibiting artist-photographer at Place M

Last week, I met Yuka Mochizuki 望月柚花 at Place M gallery. A young artist, she was exhibiting her photos in the Mini Gallery, the same space where I will be showng.

We hit it off right away because we share a similar layered approach to our work, dealing with 'the real of the unreal' or 'the unreal of the real', in a sense.

Her exhibition was titled "perfect parallel world".

BORO exhibition at the AMUSE Museum

Today, I went to the exhibition of BORO at the AMUSE Museum in Atsakusa. Boro was a traditional form of textile mending or repair practised in Northern Japan. The intention was to extend the life of kimono and other garments, as well as bed covers, by sewing patches of used fabric or remnants, often indigo-dyed cotton.

Below are a few of the many examples on display.

You can find more details on the museum's website:

http://www.amusemuseum.com/english/boro/index.html

Tokyo street performances in Sangen-jaya

Last Saturday, I went to Sangen-jaya, an area of Tokyo, to see street performers.

I went specifically to see Dairakudakan, an internationally known butoh dance troupe who are based in Tokyo. They were performing "Gold-painting". James and I had the opportunity to see their performance of "Insects" last year at the Queen Elizabeth Thetre in Vancouver. They are coming back to Vancouver to perform "Paradise" in March 2017! Needless to say, we have already booked our tickets!

We met one of the troupe's dancers, Atsushi, in Vancouver. He will be attending my exhibition in Tokyo next week.

Tokyo exhibition: Place M schedule for the next two weeks

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Maybe I'll find a Japanese kodama (wood nymph) in this park!

Wait! What's that I see in the garden?

Tokyo exhibition: Gallery location

Place M gallery is located within 5 minutes' walking distance from where I'm staying, near a huge, beautiful park called Gyoen Gardens.

Tokyo exhibition: Preparing the kimono

I unrolled the four panels of the kimono print and hung them from a rod in my apartment. This will allow them to flatten out a bit before I hang and install the kimono on one of the gallery walls.

I'll be fixing a birch bark mask at the top.

Tokyo exhibition: Invitation

I've been in Tokyo for the past week where I'll be exhibiting at Photo Gallery Place M in the Shinjuku-Gyoemnae area.

More information on my website:

http://dennishumphrey.wix.com/artphoto

Clamshell Box

I recently attended a Clamshell Box workshop facilitated by Suzan Lee. I was able to construct a box that could house booklets, a special book or other precious objects.

As always, Suzan was very well-prepared and the workshop proceeded without a hitch in a great working space at Gilligan Girls in Vancouver.

Here's the box I created, made with a sleek Japanese cover fabric and Italian papers.:

Perhaps one of my future handmade books will be accompanied by a clamshell box.

Clamshell Box

I recently attended a Clamshell Box workshop facilitated by Suzan Lee. I was able to construct a box which could contain booklets, a special book or other objects. As always, Suzan was very well prepared and the workshop proceeded without a hitch in a great work space.

Here's the box I created, made with a sleek Japanese cover fabric and Italian papers.:

Perhaps one of my future handmade books will be accompanied by a clamshell box.