Pictures of the Floating World: The Work of Ukiyo-e Artist Mari Mihashi April 15, 2007

Pictures of the Floating World
The Work of Ukiyo-e Artist Mari Mihashi
Sun., April 15, 2 p.m.
The creation of Ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese paintings and woodblock prints first produced in the 1600s, is a tradition that has been embraced by such masters
as Hiroshige, Hokusai, and Yoshitoshi. Ukiyo-e literally means “pictures of the floating
world”; they are works of immense beauty and intricacy that depict motifs of nature and cultural life. Artist Mari Mihashi, visiting from Japan, gives viewers a glimpse of the life and work of a contemporary Ukiyo-e artist. With the aid of a translator, Mihashi presents an overview of the tradition of Ukiyo-e painting and its importance in Japanese society and demonstrates her way of working. As she does every time she prepares to paint,
Mihashi performs a brief tea ceremony much as the old masters did: Her purpose is to channel the creative Edo spirit as she paints. She explains her materials, demonstrates
her artistry (employing brush and ink techniques), shows examples of her work, and links her modern way of working to this longstanding artistic tradition. Mihashi’s large-scale Ukiyo-e can be found in temples throughout Japan. Her work is on display at the Japan
Information and Culture Center in Washington, from April through June.

Location: To Be Determined
One 2-hour session
Tickets: Resident Members $35; Gen. Admission $45

Official Website: http://www.smithsonianassociates.org