This is Sandy Brown Jensen, and you’re listening to Viz City, KLCC’s art review program. Recently, I stopped in at the White Lotus Gallery to see what was on offer. When I realized I was in an exhibition of Hamanishi Katsunori’s mezzotints, I immediately felt intimidated. Hamanishi is a master craftsman and artist.
To begin, let’s just say mezzotints are one of those impossibly difficult, complicated and ancient art forms, and that he is better than anyone else in the world at doing it.
Now, let’s look at the art. These are all delightfully tiny, four or five inches by two to three inches. They are what we would call book plates but from a culture where people commission their own book plates as an art form.
For example, I am looking at one with a cherry red sunset. In front of it is a hill shape just the darkest velvety black. Then a lake streaked with gold, and in front of that, taking up half of this tiny world are silver grasses. I’m not a person who likes to use the word “exquisite,” but it does come to mind.
I am drawn to another one called “Fall”; again, about five by three inches. A waterfall drops over a vertical wall of rock. The sky is gold leaf and pines on either side are emerald green. It is a miniature world that makes me feel the same awe I feel looking up at Salt Creek Falls or Silver Falls, that sense of being in the presence of something sublime.
There are several mezzotints of kimonos. My favorite is called “Spring Haze.” It is a gold and black kimono with the stars above, the moon and evocative shadows in the swirl of the skirt.
It kind of kills me that the unframed price for one of these perfect jewels is $150 and framed is $285. These are highly collectible, each one like a serene snow globe you can fall into and watch time and your breath slow to perfection.
Please visit this show at the White Lotus and know you are standing in the presence of greatness.
This is Sandy Brown Jensen for KLCC.
