Until September 20, Room 94 of the IAACC Pablo Serrano is hosting «SUSUME! Contemporary Japanese Prints», a carefully curated selection of 77 works from the Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Pascual Collection, jointly presented by the Museo de Zaragoza and the IAACC itself.
The exhibition takes its name from the Japanese imperative susumu («Advance!», «Keep going!»), and that is precisely what it showcases: how the art of Japanese printmaking did not extinguish with the decline of ukiyo-e at the end of the 19th century, but rather revitalized itself strongly during the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibit focuses on two fundamental movements: shin hanga («new prints») and sōsaku hanga («creative prints»). The former maintained the traditional collective working system (publisher, designer, engraver, and printer), but incorporated a renewed perspective, greater realism, and Western techniques. The latter, in contrast, championed the artist as a total creator, prioritizing experimentation, individual expression, and creative freedom.
Among the genres represented, notable works include bijinga (images of beauties) by Hashiguchi Goyō; yakusha-e (Kabuki theater) pieces by Yamamoto Hisashi; and fūkeiga (landscape) masterpieces by Yoshida Hiroshi and Tokuriki Tomikichirō (such as his Mount Fuji over Lake Yamanaka in Winter).
The exhibition also highlights the intense relationship between Japan and the West, showcasing how European and American artists became fascinated by Japanese printmaking and how some Japanese creators trained in Europe.
An Invitation to Keep Advancing
SUSUME! is not merely an aesthetic showcase. It is a reflection on the ability of art to reinvent itself without losing its essence, keeping alive a millennial tradition in the contemporary world.
Practical Information
- Location: IAACC Pablo Serrano, Room 94 (Zaragoza)
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Sundays and holidays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Closed on Mondays.
- Admission: Free
If you are passionate about Japanese art, printmaking, or simply want to enjoy an elegant and well-documented exhibition, «SUSUME!» is undoubtedly one of the best cultural offerings of the summer in Aragón.
About the Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Pascual Collection
The exhibit features works from the Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Pascual Collection, one of the leading private collections of Japanese graphic art in Spain. Formed over several decades, this collection stands out for its quality and representativeness of the shin hanga and sōsaku hanga movements, offering a broad perspective on the evolution of Japanese printmaking from the early 20th century to the present.
Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Pascual, an Aragonese collector with a solid track record in Asian art, has assembled a collection of prints that reflects a deep understanding of the field. His collection serves as a valuable resource for studying and disseminating the continuity and transformation of printmaking art in Japan beyond the classical period of ukiyo-e.
