Ukiyo-e Inspired Art: A Modern Interpretation of Traditional Japanese Woodblock Prints

As someone who loves Japanese-style tattooing (Irezumi/Wabori), it was only a matter of time before I followed that artistic tradition back to its source and discovered Ukiyo-e. These Japanese woodblock prints from the Edo period offer really vivid glimpses into art and culture, with a strong grounding in time and place (the 18th-19th centuries). They have a sharp, bold aesthetic with interesting compositions, strong lines, and detailed pattern work. Subject matter ranges from Kabuki actors and samurai to placid landscapes and historical portrait-type work. It's these superficial elements that drew me in and allowed me to take a more thoughtful look at the artform.

Looking at these prints as historical works, they have been elevated to the sphere of fine art, bought and sold in galleries and held in private collections worldwide. The genre really does deserve this kind of reverence, as its cultural importance is quite high and growing. Back when these were contemporary works, however, they were reasonably priced mass-market objects. They were beautiful but very contemporary. That's the first way the genre influences my artwork. I am very interested in hitting recognizable historical-cultural beats, whether it be my kimono patterns and their wholesale reproduction. I am always interested in nowness and how I can make my artwork modern in its own way. Working with a digital process is the key way I do that, as well as trying at times to blend in all of these contemporary cultural things that I love, like DJing, Tattoo culture, Video games, etc. Some of my earlier work embraced these Anime-esq influences more literally. Still, now I am much more comfortable keeping it to something like bolder, comic-book-like linework and hip-hop music accompanying my reels on Instagram.

Understanding the process of printing Ukiyo-e prints means acknowledging Japanese craftsmanship. Not screen-printed as they would be if they were created now, but painstakingly made out of multiple carvings, one for each colour of the print. The attention to craftsmanship isn't something my work has been known for in the past; still, I am constantly striving in this collection to be more attentive to my choices and willing to embrace a stippling process for laying down my pattern work, which is quite production-intensive.

My Dad was born in Singapore, and while that doesn't make me Asian, it has always been a piece of connective tissue between my internal self and Southeast Asian countries and cultures. Spending months in China in 2016 and again in 2018, and then travelling in Japan in 2023, has only fueled that love, interest and deep respect for the panoply of Asian peoples' histories and their cultural practices. What this means to me is that I will always endeavor to act as a good house guest in this artistic cultural space. Appreciating and acknowledging without appropriating. The Japanese specifically have always been so generous in sharing themselves and their culture with the world, and I want to stay on the right side of that.

Ukiyo-e serves as a primary inspiration for my current artwork, bridging the past and present through modern art practice and cultural motifs, aiming to evoke a sense of respect and curiosity in my audience.

I love it, and you should, too.

Take a look at the resources below to learn more about Ukiyo-e