“This will be the third time the Kyoto Print Exhibition Executive Committee holds a comprehensive exhibition of contemporary prints. A new form of print show organized, planned and mounted by a committee composed of artists who are members of the Japan Print Association and live in the Kansai area, this exhibition provides a venue for the activities of the print world in Western Japan. Greater in scale and conception from standard ongoing group shows, the KYOTO Hanga exhibitions up to now have had noteworthy content and quality.
The first exhibition set up by the Committee in the year 2000, which invited contributions from independent artists of merit, filled in some geographical omissions and introduced a good balance into the print world of Japan. It communicated the attractions of print art perfectly. Then, starting with their second exhibition two years ago, they inaugurated holding exhibitions every other year and expanded their scope to include international exchange, introducing contemporary prints from abroad and opening with the Japan China International Print Exhibition. It was wonderful for us to be able to see, under the same roof, both the Japanese prints and the best of contemporary Chinese print artists selected from all corners of China—artists whose activities, within the context of the recent remarkably rapid progress of Chinese contemporary art, predictably reflected the proud traditions of the Chinese print world.
As their third exhibition, KYOTO Hanga 2003, to be held in the Kyoto City Art Museum this year, the Committee will introduce about 90 prints from contemporary Bulgarian works for the Japan Bulgaria International Print Exhibition. Eastern Europe since the Second World War has shown a remarkable development and activity in printmaking that continues till today, and on top of this, Bulgaria fosters its own special print tradition and style, making it a leader in the print world rightly proud of its capability. It is with great pleasure that I look forward to enjoying these Bulgarian prints, so different from the Chinese ones.
They say that the Committee has plans to continue their activities in the future. I sincerely hope that having demonstrated the unreserved energy that draws together the print artists of Kansai and Western Japan, their efforts will go a long way towards the revitalization of the Japanese print world, while at the same time contributing to international cultural exchange.”
Mitsugi Uehira
Director of the Kyoto City Art Museum