A Journey Through the Renewal of Japanese Printmaking
The central focus of the exhibition revolves around two movements that marked the renewal of printmaking in Japan during the 20th century: shin hanga (new prints) and sōsaku hanga (creative prints). Both emerged to revitalize an artistic tradition that had lost prominence following the country’s opening to the West and represent a bridge between classical print and contemporary currents.
Among the featured artists are notable figures such as Itō Shinsui and Kawase Hasui, alongside Western creators like Elizabeth Keith and Helen Hyde, who traveled to Japan over a century ago to learn traditional techniques and develop a significant portion of their artistic careers there.
A Collection Born from a Passion for Japan
The exhibition showcases a selection from the collection assembled by Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez, who began this project in 2015 after various trips to the Asian country. In just a decade, he has managed to gather nearly 650 prints, dated between the 18th and 21st centuries, becoming one of the leading collectors of Japanese graphic art in Aragon.
During the presentation of the exhibition, Gutiérrez explained that his goal has never been to complete a closed collection but to enjoy the ongoing discovery process inherent in collecting. This philosophy is reflected in an exhibition that combines works of immense artistic quality with lesser-known pieces, allowing for a deeper understanding of the richness and diversity of contemporary Japanese printmaking.
Aragon Strengthens Its Ties with Eastern Art
At the inauguration, the General Director of Culture and Cultural Heritage for the Government of Aragon, Pedro Olloqui, emphasized that this exhibition consolidates Aragon’s long-standing tradition of studying and promoting Eastern art. He also noted that the upcoming reopening of the Zaragoza Museum will feature its Asian collection as one of its main attractions, reinforcing Aragon’s positioning as one of Spain’s key references in this cultural field.
This initiative also represents a new step in the collaboration between the Zaragoza Museum and Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez’s collection, a relationship that began in 2018 through deposits of Japanese graphic works and has enabled the development of various exhibitions and outreach activities centered around Japanese art.
With «SUSUME!», which translates to «advance» or «move forward» in Japanese, the IAACC Pablo Serrano invites visitors to explore a lesser-known facet of Japanese art: that of a printmaking tradition that, while staying true to its roots, has successfully reinvented itself to engage with contemporary society and keep alive one of the world’s most influential artistic traditions.
