2007 in Review plus preview of next 2 prints!

For the past 2 months or so I've really been looking into developing the higher end prints which will be printed on bamboo veneer. The edition sizes will be way smaller. Enfu's bamboo veneer line is coming very soon. I've already prepared 2 cool prints and a box of nicely cut veneers to introduce this line. This line will be made of 6x6 3/4" thick bamboo veneer. The first layer will be screenprints, the next layer will be covered in a thick layer of polymer, on top of which will lay a transparency of linework, halftone gradient, and normal gradient (adding slightly more depth than screenprinting alone). On top of the transparency is another polymer layer and a matte varnish. This new line will probably be considered mixed media since it isn't a screenprint alone.

"Ase-Cola"

Well thanks to sites like Engrish.com many of you know or heard of the Japanese drink Pocari Sweat. I've had the drink since I was a kid and its great. I never really thought about the fact that I'm drinking a drink labeled sweat, but it obviously became a butt of many jokes here in the US. I thought why not label it with the Japanese word for sweat 'Ase' so the Japanese would know how weird it is. Also, since the fruit flavor Acerola is common outside of the US, and it sounds like Ase Cola, I decided it would be funny if I gave the drink that flavor.

"U-Bin-Box"

I initially came up with this simple hybrid a long time ago as its fairly easy to combine such iconic well recognizeable items on the street. I found it interesting how different a simple design of a post office box is to different cultures. Funny story: The common US post box shape looks similar to what garbage cans look like in Japan. So similar in fact, that I knew of a Japanese native throwing away garbage in the post box.

This is my 3rd year since I've started this blog in 2005. I guess its now a habit for me to blog my years' lessons regarding Enfu.

-When you buy art you buy time.
A friend of mine owns original Hiroshige works. When I first saw it hanging in the room I could not believe it! Wow!!! An actual Ukiyoe from Japan preserved in time. He told me that when you buy art you only buy the right to enjoy it in your lifetime. The artwork will remain long after you die and it will simply just get passed on. So the money you pluck down for a nice piece of work is your rental fee for enjoying it in your lifetime. I never thought of art like that....put things in perspective for me.

-People buy prints for different reasons.
Some people buy the print cause they simply like the design, others because they understand the concept or can relate to the subject matter. I'm just thankful for anyone who digs my stuff enough to shell out their hard earned money.

-Nikkei? Whats that?
Most people don't really care about why you create what you do. Most people could care less about the Japanese American culture, or Nikkei culture. Even many Nikkei don't really care about Nikkei culture in my opinion. The Nikkei community is dwindling, and its hay day like in pre WW2 times is long gone. So my effort to include Nikkei themes in my work feels at times to be more of self preservation of a 'dying' culture.
Don't confuse Nikkei culture with Japanese culture. Nikkei are not Japanese, just of Japanese descent.

-You don't have to be Japanese to create content which is 'Japanese' and be successful.
Take the artist tokidoki, who does cute little characters which adorn Le Sportsac bags. They are great designs. I like the little drawings. But he is Italian. Not Japanese. Does this really matter? Do I care that a non Japanese person uses Japanese females adorned in tatoos of Geishas to promote his work? When I think about it the Japanese used an Italian plumber who has the notable 'italian' accent "Its-a-me, Mario!" to promote their game, so I guess all is fair game.
Now take Yumiko Kayukawa. She is a Japanese national making great art in the Seattle area. Her works also portray Japanese females in sexy poses along with other content of course. But she IS a Japanese female.
Although as an artist who appreciates simply good art I can appreciate both successful artists' work.
BUT I still feel a bit obligated to mention that it bothers me for some reason.