Artist Talk with Masami Teraoka (expired event)

Join Masami Teraoka for an artist talk to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Masami Teraoka and Japanese Ukiyo-e Prints.

‘In my work, I try to express my feelings about the two diverse cultures that influenced me. My mentors were both ukiyo-e artists of Edo, Japan, and American Pop artists of the nineteen sixties.’ – Masami Teraoka

Masami Teraoka is a Japanese born artist who lives and works in Hawai’i. He is known for his unique fusion of historic art styles with contemporary themes.

Born in 1936, he initially studied Aesthetics in Japan, before moving to Los Angeles in 1961 to further his artistic training. Teraoka’s immersion in American culture profoundly influenced him artistically and personally, and he became an insightful observer and commentator of Japanese and American culture.

From the early 1970s he adopted the traditional visual vocabulary of Edo period (1603–1868) Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, combining it with elements of American Pop Art to reflect on issues such as globalisation, collisions between Asian and Western cultures and the AIDS crisis.

From the mid-1990s Teraoka shifted his style again, adopting the style of European Renaissance paintings to address issues such as the abuse in the Catholic Church.

The exhibition is on display in Gallery 26 from the 21 September 2024 – 2 March 2025.