Cutting Edge: Paper Cuts by Ryohei Tanaka & Qiao Xiaoguang

This month and through October 15th Cullom Gallery is showcasing the work of two contemporary paper cut artists: gallery favorite and Tokyo native, Ryohei Tanaka; and Beijing-based Chinese artist Qiao Xiaoguang. The exhibit, Cutting Edge: Contemporary Paper Cuts by Ryohei Tanaka and Qiao Xiaoguang, offers two decidedly different takes on contemporary paper cutting from two cultures with deep roots in paper cutting traditions.  Below are a few installation shots.  You can also see the complete online exhibit here.  Tomorrow, October 1st, Qiao Xiaoguang's Beijng gallerist, Jan Leaming, will give a talk at Cullom Gallery at 2 pm.  Jan will offer insights into the rich history of paper cutting in China, the role of mythology and folk art in Professor Qiao's paper arts, and the future of contemporary Chinese folk art.  More on Jan's talk and other US events for Professor Qiao coming soon.

Qiao Xiaoguang (b. 1957)  (left) Food Recipe (right) Humans and Animals. 

Qiao Xiaoguang (b. 1957) several paper cuts from Qiao's Urban Landscape series

Ryohei Tanaka (b. 1977) Cutting Edge... Installation view

Ryohei Tanaka (b. 1977)  (left) Iroha (right) The Myth. 

Tanaka Paper Cuts Added to Two Museum Collections

We are delighted to announce that the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon in Eugene have each selected a number of Tokyo artist Ryohei Tanaka's paper cuts for their permanent collections!  The Jordan Schnitzer Museum has said that Tanaka's work will hang in a survey of Japanese arts in the coming months.  We await news from the Spencer about exhibition of their new Tanakas.  A big congratulations to Ryohei for this important success! 

Images top to bottom:

The Zanies, The Great Pretender - Collection, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Into the Dream, The Outer Space Man and the Plant Girl, Not Bad People - Collection, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

All paper cuts by Ryohei Tanaka.

Praise for Ryohei Tanaka

Lots to report today.  I was psyched that The Stranger's Jen Graves highlighted Ryohei Tanka's paper cuts on The Slog this week.  If you haven't seen the show in person yet, swing by the gallery next Thursday for the monthly First Thursday Gallery Walk, from 6 to 9 pm.  I am also putting up a good selection of matchbox labels, vintage postcards, black & white photos of Japan in the 1920s, old commercial goods and hotel luggage labels, and one cool Pro Wrestling poster, all part of Cullom Gallery's Third Annual Summer Ephemera Show, which will run only through Saturday, August 14.  The International District is also hosting JamFest this summer on every first Thursday of the month through September.  The music lineup and ticket info can be found here.

First Thursday Gallery Walk

August 5th, 6 - 9 pm

Cullom Gallery

603 S Main Street

Seattle, WA  98104

Map

On View:

Cuttin' It Up: Paper Cuts by Ryohei Tanka

Third Annual Summer Ephemera Show

Both through Saturday, August 14, 2010

 

Ryohei Tanka Exhibit Online

It's up!  A selection of 36 of the nearly 70 amazing hand-folded and cut kirigami, featured in our current exhibit, Cuttin' It Up: Paper Cuts by Ryohei Tanaka continuing through August 14, 2010.  Stop by on the First Thursday in August, 8/5, for the monthly Gallery Walk, to also see our 3rd Annual Summer Ephemera Show, a short run from 8/5 - 8/14, so don't miss it!

Breath In Breath Out.

Praying Angry Man.

3 New Paper Cuts

I was happy to add these three paper cuts to the gallery show and online exhibit, Panic Attack(!) (Don't Panic): Paper cuts by Ryohei Tanaka, that continues at Cullom Gallery through May 30th. Blow Fish Girl and Oscar's Cousin were done by Ryohei during his visit to the Gallery.

Good Night & Thanks

A big thanks to all who made it to the Gallery Thursday night. Watching Ryohei cut on-the-spot portraits and answer questions was a lot of fun. I appreciate all your support! A few follow up things:

If you haven't found it on your own, here is a link to Ryohei's own website. His painting and illustration work is not to miss. Also, for those in Los Angeles, through May 2nd, you can see more of Ryohei's paper cuts in the 9-artist group show, PaperShapers (at Scion Space (3521 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90232). More info about that show at www.scion.com/space.

If you were there Thursday, you may have also met Rob Sato, a friend of Ryohei's, who is an amazing artist and illustrator himself. Check out his work & see a schedule of his upcoming shows at http://www.robsato.com/index.html.

Thanks again for your support!