Now blogging: the Japan chronicles

We have started a new blog documenting our unforgettable journey to Japan following our visit to the Mokuhanga conference in Echizen (Japan) last April.

Join us as we delve into the rich history, intricate techniques, and stunning artistry of Japanese woodblock printing. From exploring traditional workshops to meeting master craftsmen, we will take you on a captivating visual and narrative journey through this timeless art form in a fascinating country.

Follow our journey on the blog pages.

Travelling exposition 2024 info

From November 2023 to Januari 2025, we travel around with a mobile exhibition ‘Weg van de Japanse houtsnede’ on Japanese woodcut throughout several Flemish cities. The exhibition consists of 3 parts:

  1. the exhibition itself
  2. accompanying publication
  3. a live demonstration at the exhibition venue

In the exhibition, we provide both a brief historical overview and a visual insight into the different steps of the printing process of a Japanese woodcut by means of working materials, wood plates, prints and a documentary film.

expo

De Krook _ Gent _ 01/02 - 08/03
De Biekorf _ Brugge _ 13/03 - 08/04
Bokrijk _ Genk _ 09/04 - 26/09
Museum Plantin-Moretus _ Antwerpen _ 28/09 - 28/10
Museum Kunst & Geschiedenis _ Brussel _ 29/10 - 05/01

demonstration

23/02 _ De Krook _ Gent _ 16u45 - 18u15
13/03 _ De Biekorf _ Brugge _ 15u - 17u
06/10 _ Museum Plantin-Moretus _ Antwerpen _ 13u30u - 15u30
09/11 _ Museum Kunst&Geschiedenis _ Brussel

workshop

Tips van de meester 1 _ Bokrijk _ Genk _ 18/05, 14u - 17u
Tips van de meester 2 _ Bokrijk _ Genk _ 01/06, 14u - 17u

talk

13/03 _ De Biekorf _ Brugge _ 19u30 - 21u (dutch)
18/05 _ Bokrijk _ Genk _ 10u30 - 12u30u (dutch)
Kamishibai bicycle in the Antwerp railway station
Construction plan for kamishibai bycicle

The exhibition concept is based on the idea of a kamishibai: a mobile Japanese theatre. All exhibition components are collected in a specially tailored cabinet (by Atelier OH and Goshia Olchowska) that can be moved from one location to another by bicycle.
This cabinet can house all materials such as the paper, wood blocks, paint and tools we need to give a mokuhanga demonstration for the exhibition audience (check the demo dates).
It will also be equipped with an iPad so that visitors who could not attend a demonstration can still get an insight into each step of the printing process via a documentary film.

Besides the historical and educational aspect of the exhibition, the second part, the accompanying publication, will introduce visitors to the fascinating and diverse world of contemporary mokuhanga through the works of artists from all over the world who each work with this special medium in their own unique way.

We launched an Open Call and this brought us entries from all over the world! The selected works are published in a small catalogue, the Publication Mokublad. Click here for a free download.

The publication will be distributed in all Flemish museums and cultural centres. All this was made possible with the support of Focus Vakmanschap.

The MOKUBLAD is a kind of newspaper, created in collaboration with TUIG. We specifically choose this format because it allows us to reach a wide audience and make a reference to the original, approachable and commercial character of Japanese woodcut.