Moku-hanga

As part of my curation of The Masters - Relief Prints at The Bankside Gallery I was pleased to see a number of prints made using the moku-hanga technique. Unlike many relief printmaking methods which make use of oil-based inks, this traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking technique uses water-based inks which are applied to the cut wooden block. Handmade Japanese paper is then placed onto the block which is then hand burnished using a baren.

Below are prints from two artists who make use of the technique in their work.

Paul Furneaux is based in Scotland and exhibits his prints globally. His website includes some excellent notes about his approach to the moku hanga technique.

Born in Osaka, Japan, Nana Shiomi studied oil painting and printmaking at the Tama Art University (BA, MA), Tokyo. Shiomi came to London to study contemporary art and received an MA in printmaking from the Royal College of Art in 1991.

The Masters - Relief Prints run until Sunday 15th November at The Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton Street, London SE1 9JH. Find out more

Paul Furneaux 'Sunlight Garden' (54 x 74cm)

Nana Shiomi 'Garan-Do, Autumn' (80 x 107cm)