Tag Archives: Japan

I Got Up At

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

On Kawara was a 20th century Japanese conceptual artist who was influential in the New York art scene. Although he was widely know for his “Today” series or “Date Paintings,” many considered that the most personal and intimate of his … Continue reading →

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Waving Not Drowning

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

By now nearly every human being on the planet has seen one version or another of the iconic painting above. What do most of us really know about this sublime work of art ? When woodcut artist Katsushika Hokusai made his famous … Continue reading →

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Saving Traditional Techniques

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I first became enamored with traditional Japanese printmaking many years ago when I saw a show at Amsterdam’s Rijksmusem on Van Gogh’s personal collection of prints. The collection is now housed at the Van Gogh Museum. There are many steps … Continue reading →

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Flipping Brilliant

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

If you ever wax nostalgic for the old iconic railway station flipboards like the one pictured above from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, you are going to love this story. Chee-Kit Lai, founder of Mobile Studio Architects, has created what may … Continue reading →

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Year of the Mask

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Beyond Noh” by Patrick Smith is a mesmerizing trip through thousands of mask from around the world, including the now ubiquitous Covid-19 protective devices.  The vivid images span dozens of cultures and time periods and shift from one to the next … Continue reading →

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Worldwide Live

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

When I have felt especially claustrophobic during the Pandemic lockdown, I have checked out some of the amazing live camera feeds from around the globe. Recently, I found the wonderful Rolling Cam World on Youtube and I think that I’m … Continue reading →

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Kafka on the Shore (and t-shirts)

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

When I think of the celebrated Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami  fashion does not come to mind. However, it seems that the author is much more interested in style than his novels such as 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood suggest. Murakami recently collaborated with … Continue reading →

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Vintage is better

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I recently ran across a treasure trove of vintage Japanese travel posters from the early 20th century. As you know, I’m a little bit obsessed with travel related advertising, but I think that early travel posters managed to do a … Continue reading →

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The Red Lantern

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Kitagawa Utamaro and The Red lantern Shop, Kyoto, Woodblock printing technique From Process of Printing Wood Engraving (Mokuhan Suritate Junjo),  1956.  

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Repair and Restoration

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

  A big h/t to Bonnie B. our first and most loyal subscriber for this post on a loving restoration project from Japan. As an antiquarian and secondhand bookseller, I’ve done some minor repairs and restorations over the years, but … Continue reading →

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