New Expressions! Focus on Digital Prints Created on Computers Using Photographs and Drawings At the 11th Duro International Print Biennale A former high school teacher who began creating artwork after retirement was invited to exhibit his work at the 11th Duro International Print Biennale.

Atelier Yamaguchi is pleased to announce that the work of Fumio Yamaguchi, 72, a digital printmaker and former high school social studies teacher from Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, has been invited to exhibit at the 11th Dülo International Print Biennale in Dülo, Portugal.

The 11th Dülo International Print Biennale: http://www.bienaldouro.com/

List of artists from 65 countries: https://bienaldouro.com/countries

　　　　　　 12 Japanese artists: https://bienaldouro.com/countries/11/japan

Introduction of Fumio Yamaguchi: https://bienaldouro.com/artists/fumio.yamaguchi/11

Digitalization in the world of art

Digital prints, which are produced using photographs and drawings, are attracting attention. Digital printmaking is a printmaking technique that uses a personal computer. Images such as photographs and paintings are imported into a computer and edited using image editing software. The number of people of all ages who are involved in digital printmaking is increasing, as it is possible to create works of art by processing photos on a computer, even if you cannot draw.

Late-blooming printmaker who started after retirement

Digital printmaking, which Fumio Yamaguchi, 72, began as a post-retirement hobby, has become a hot topic overseas. As he majored in forest ecology when he was a student, many of his works use natural trees and birds as motifs, and his works, which include photographs taken in the forests of Hokkaido overlaid on Japanese paper, are particularly popular overseas. Another example is a work in which he layered photographs taken inside the Stockholm Public Library in Sweden, an expression that could only be achieved through digital printmaking.

plant and birds

plant

Stockholm Public Library

In spite of being self-taught, he was able to win awards both nationally and internationally within a few years, and he has continued to enjoy creating artwork. And his work was selected as an invited artist for this year's international art exhibition, the 11th Düsseldorf International Print Biennale. It is unusual in the world for a painter with zero art experience to be invited to the exhibition, while all the invited Japanese artists are art university professors and other people who seem to have been leaders in the art world.

I want to take on this challenge for my father.

Fumio Yamaguchi was influenced by his father, who loved photography, and started taking up cameras when he was a student. After graduation, he became a high school social studies teacher and worked there until retirement. After that, I decided to take up digital printmaking, which I had been interested in while I was working there, and started making prints by combining the photos I had taken on trips. After much trial and error, I submitted my work to a contest and was surprised to receive an award. Since then, I have immersed myself in digital printmaking and have produced more than 100 prints so far.

＜Fumio Yamaguchi comments

I would like to continue taking on challenges for my father, who passed away before I had time to enjoy my second life after retirement.

The 11th Dülo International Print Biennial is being held in Dülo, Portugal from August 10 to October 31.

Fumio Yamaguchi HP: https://fumio001.wixsite.com/fumio-yamaguchi

Logo of the 11th Dülo International Print Biennial

Fumio Yamaguchi Profile

Biography:

1950 Born in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.

1974 Graduated from Utsunomiya University, Department of Forestry, Forest Ecology

1978 Completed Master's program in Agricultural Science at Shimane University, and obtained teaching licenses in agriculture and social studies

1978-2011: High School Teacher at Okayama University of Science, in charge of history, geography, etc.

Awards:

2016 5th FEI PRINT AWARDS, Kyuryudo Award

2016 The 10th Onojo Madokopia Print Biennale, Selected Prize

2016 Selected, 84th Japan Print Association Exhibition

2017 Selected, 13th Hamamatsu City Museum of Art Print Grand Prize Exhibition

2017 16th Minami-Shimabara Seminariyo Contemporary Print Exhibition, Cable TV Shimabara Prize

2017 Selected, 94th Shunyokai Print Division

2017 Selected, 85th Japan Print Association

2018 Selected, 62nd CWAJ Contemporary Print Exhibition

2019 The 18th Minami Shimabara Seminariyo Contemporary Print Exhibition, JA Unzen Shimabara Association Head Prize

2019 Selected, 63rd CWAJ Contemporary Print Exhibition

2019 2nd International Print Biennial (Yerevan, Armenia)

2019 International Lithograph Triennial Kielce, Poland

2018-2019 Invited to exhibit at the 4th Duro International Printmaking Exhibition (Portugal)

2020 Invited to exhibit at the 10th Dülo International Print Biennial (Portugal)

2020 René Carcan International Print Exhibition (Belgium), First Prize

2021 11th Kochi International Print Triennial Exhibition

2021 Okanagan International Print Triennial (Canada)

2022 Solo Exhibition "Ballad of Grass, Tree and Bird" at Jyufukai Gallery (Okayama, Japan)

2023 Solo Exhibition "Le Collage ~Between Photography and Printmaking~" at The Museum of Photography, Kyoto

2023 AAmA International Art Exhibition

　　　　　　 (Italy Spain Argentine China Tour), Invited Participant

2023 The 11th Duro International Biennial of Prints, Invited work