feebee
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Dragon -"
This piece was inspired by “A Beast called Kotobuki” by Shigemitsu Enrousai, an ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo Period. The auspicious creature that embodies the characteristics of all the animals of the Eastern zodiac has been painted by Enrousai and other ukiyo-e artists. As a motif, it resonates with the theme of “reverence, life and death, the cyclical nature of life” that feebee has expressed through her work. Various elements are entwined with one another as they rise and fall in a continuous cycle. The 12 animals of the zodiac also revolve, one animal taking center stage each year to create the calendar. This work is created for the Year of the Dragon and features a creature with a Dragon's head and the other 11 animals, awaiting their turn, masterfully incorporated into its body.
*The series of "The Beast Known as Kotobuki" will be completed with 12 animals. The third animal, "Dragon" is released for 2024 coming after "Rabbit" for 2023, "Tiger" for 2022, "Ox" for 2021 and "Rat" for 2020.
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Dragon -"
Limited edition: 80
Dimension of picture: 23.0×23.0cm
Dimension of frame: 39.8 ×39.8 ㎝
Specification of frame: Approx. 2.0kg, wood, acrylic resin
Type of print: Woodcut print
Paper used: Echizen kizuki hosho washi
(produced by living national treasure Ichibei Iwano)
Date of publication: "Dragon” December 2023
Supervision: The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
Production: The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints
Delivery: Delivery will begin from around 15th December, 2023
feebee explores the world of woodcut prints as a contemporary ukiyo-e artist.
A Dragon and the other 11 animals.
Each of the 12 animals of the zodiac are carefully carved.
The lines painted by feebee are faithfully carved into the blocks which make the woodcut prints.
The colors envisioned by the artist are printed one color at a time.
feebee stands next to the printer to check the colors as they are printed.
Each print is signed by the artist.
The ukiyo-e is printed on Echizen kizuki hosho washi (a unique kind of Japanese paper) handmade from 100% paper-mulberry fibers by Ichibei Iwano, a living national treasure.
The lines drawn by feebee are immaculate.
The collaboration between the carver and the artist is electrifying.
The precise lines are characteristic of a skilled illustrator and are essential to the production of ukiyo-e prints. The carver puts all his skills to use as he carves the unwavering and beautiful lines. Revealed here is the true appeal of ukiyo-e prints, a composite art created through the collaboration of the artist, the carver and the printer.
Bright and airy colors unique to ukiyo-e woodcut prints
Working together to bring life to feebee’s vision
The vivid colors of ukiyo-e woodcut prints are produced by pressing water-based pigment inks into carefully handcrafted Japanese paper made from paper-mulberry pulp. The printer recreates the vivid colors envisioned by the artist feebee by carefully preparing the inks and using a baren rubbing pad to press them into the handcrafted Japanese paper.
feebee
feebee has worked as an illustrator since 2002.
She made a transition to an artist from around 2015.
Making use of her talent for character design that she developed as an illustrator and traditional painting techniques based on the Chinese painting technique of Gongbi and Japanese-style painting, feebee has gained acclaim for works featuring mystical creatures from legends and myths.
feebee sees the world as a "cycling" phenomenon and is interested in how we can become involved in the flow to create a virtuous cycle for the next generation. Such sensibilities and interests are expressed through her work.
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Dragon -"
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Rabbit -"
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Tiger -"
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Ox -"
"The Beast Known as Kotobuki - Rat -"
- No. of copies:
- 80
- Dimension of picture:
- 23.0×23.0cm
- Dimension of frame:
- 39.8×39.8cm
- Specification of frame:
- Approx. 2.0kg, wood, acrylic resin
- Type of print:
- Woodcut print
- Paper used:
- Echizen kizuki hosho washi (produced by living national treasure Ichibei Iwano)
- Date of publication:
- "Dragon” December 2023, "Rabbit” December 2022, "Tiger” December 2021, "Ox” December 2020 and "Rat" December 2019
- Supervision:
- The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing
- Production:
- The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints
- Delivery:
- Within one week from order confirmation. （"Rat", "Ox", "Tiger", "Rabbit")
Delivery will begin from around 15th December, 2023（"Dragon")