Masami Teraoka (寺岡政美) (artist 1936)
31 Flavors Invading Japan / Today’s Special (三十一種類のアイスクリイム日本に上陸: 本日のお味)
1982
11.125 in x 16.5 in (Overall dimensions) color woodblock print
Signed: Teraoka Masami hitsu (寺岡政美筆)
Seal (fake): kiwame
Asian Art Museum
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Achenbach Foundation - dated to 1977
Minneapolis Museum of Art - dated to 1981
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Oakland Museum of California
Crocker Museum of Art
Denver Art Museum
Kruizenga Art Museum
National Museum of Asian Art - a proof print 35 color woodcut with additional hand-coloring on Hosho paper.
Recent Work 1994 - 2004
In my career I have painted about issues from gay marriage, American style confessions on TV talk shows, recent priests' confessions, politics, international affairs, censorship, invasion of privacy, gender, sexual preference, religious discrimination, the Impeachment Trial, Viagra, and AIDS to air and water pollution, toxic shock syndrome, American fast food and culture invading the world (McDonald's Hamburgers Invading Japan, 31 Flavors Invading Japan), international tourism and terrorism, and culture clash and beyond to current series on today's mass media, cloning and internet culture (often as seen through the eyes of an up-to-date Adam and Eve).
Weaving news media, reality, fantasy, visionary, imaginary and otherworldly reality with humor, line, form and color, commentary, topicality, and a high level of aesthetics is a challenge. I try to focus on current issues articulated on a metaphorical level rather than recreating a mere copy of reality. Each narrative creates a fantastical aesthetic world where human folly and dilemma are expressed in such a way that the beauty and ugliness of human activity and psyche thrive in a complex pictorial recipe.
In order to articulate these varied issues my work has evolved from Japanese-based watercolor paintings to Western-based oil painting. What is consistent about these two obviously different styles is the conceptual aspect of narrative painting.
Ironically, to tackle contemporary issues, I reach into the past, basing my early paintings on Japanese Ukiyo-e or wood block prints. My current work has taken another direction, melding western aesthetics, religious and iconic themes from Renaissance that I update as if continuing a cross-epoch conversation. What determines which of the media I work with is the content of the statement I want to address. I use two different visual vocabularies- one for each media- which like any language, encapsulate different outlooks and implications and are applicable in different contexts. This web site is arranged in reverse chronological order so that you will always see my latest work at the top. Please enjoy!
--Masami Teraoka
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The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco notes: "The late 1960s and the early 1970s represent the turning point in Teraoka's development; at this time he hit upon the idea of combining elements of woodblock tradition with his knowledge of American popular culture to make satirical statements. The woodblock tradition proved well suited to his lighthearted satires, and it resulted in major series of paintings and silk screen prints in the 1970s and 1980s, entitled McDonald's Hamburgers Invading Japan and 31 Flavors Invading Japan."
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"Japan’s Ukiyo-e woodblock printing is a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation. It is a collaboration among artist, carver, and printer, of highly technical skills and craftsmanship. 31 Flavors Invading Japan/Today’s Special is the result of Masami Teraoka’s first exploration of that process.
"Blocks of cherry wood carved by hand were used to print the image in 35 colors on Hosho, a handmade paper. The edition was printed at Ukiyo-e research Center in Tokyo, Japan, under the direction of Tadakatsu Takamizawa. Mr. Hanpei Okura did the carving and the printing was done by Mr. Kanjiro Sato. Tadakatsu Takamizawa is a noted expert in the field of natural dyes. These vegetable and mineral dyes were used to create the subtle tonalities achieved in the print.
31 Flavors Invading Japan/Today’s Special is Teraoka’s continuing commentary on the “floating world.” Ukiyo-e means “pictures of the floating world.”
Translation of Japanese (Jojuri) text:
- Center: She's about to lick
- Right side: A scene from today's life
- Lower right: Teraoka family seal (kimono shop)
- Lower left cartouche: Masami Teraoka
(Courtesy of Catharine Clark Gallery)
Carved and printed under the direction of Tadakatsu Takamizawa by Hanpei Okura and Kanjiro Sato respectively at the Ukiyo-e Research Center in Tokyo, Japan. Published by Space Gallery, Los Angeles, California.
****There is another copy of the center panel in the Worcester Art Museum: #214/500 - dated to 1981
modern prints (shin hanga - 新版画) (genre)
beautiful women (bijin-ga - 美人画) (genre)