Section 1
Art is vital for our development as human beings.
It nurtures and regenerates
that part of us that makes us live.
Everyone would agree that
we cannot live without music, right?
This applies to other art genres as well...
MOKU HANGA
Having studied 4 years
at the Yoshida Hanga Academy in Tokyo,
I have been teaching Moku Hanga internationally
at universities, art institutions and schools
In the visual arts world, within the graphic arts, we have techniques such as etching, lithography, woodcut, serigraphy, photography, and now computer graphics. A lot of the work done by Picasso for instance, was done with etching. However, in the Western world little is known about other well developed and rich techniques from Asia, such as Moku hanga, the Japanese wood block printing technique, better known as Ukiyo-E through the works of Hokusai, Hiroshige, Yoshida or Kunisada. Nevertheless, this technique has continued up to this day,
mostly in Japan, with contemporary art.
The Yoshida Hanga Academy, with a 4-generation family history in the field, offered for many years,
to selected artists, the possibility to learn this traditional Japanese art technique.
I was lucky to be accepted in their shop and I studied there from 1985 to 1989
Years later, in 2005, lithographer Per Anderson and I, co-founded and developed ¨La Ceiba Gráfica¨,
with the help of a number of local artists.
It is now Mexico's most dynamic graphic arts center with a residency program.
There, I begun to ¨adapt the Japanese technique to Mexico¨. Sometimes, when you attempt to do something outside its context, it can be quite difficult. Not finding the right ingredients and materials poses big drawbacks and this is why the moku hanga technique is almost inexistent in other parts of the world. For example, the tortillas one finds in Sweden are not real tortillas, they are made with alternate ingredients. Nevertheless, after a few years researching the matter, I achieved technical success outside Japan and have taught the technique
to numerous groups in Mexico and the U.S. Now I can do it in Europe as well.
Introducing a traditional japanese
wood-block printing workshop
Français
M.V. a étudié la gravure sur bois, la technique traditionnelle japonaise pendant 4 ans a Tokyo à la Yoshida Hanga Academy. Actuellement il l’enseigne à des universités, écoles et instituts d’art dans plusieurs pays.
Voilá le deroulement d'un cours
Español
M.V. estudió el Moku Hanga o grabado en madera - la técnica tradicional japonesa durante 4 años en Tokio, en la Yoshida Hanga Academy. Actualmente imparte cursos en universidades, escuelas e instituciones de arte en varios países.
He aquí un curso intensivo
Moku Hanga / Kozo paper making workshop
With Steve Miller at the University of Alabama
La Ceiba Gráfica
With a concept of self-sufficiency and nature-friendliness
we have made a heaven for artists but also for those who want to do their art
without having gone through the institutionalised channels.
The government loaned our association an abandoned building which we saved, cleaned and restored We have created workshops and have been teaching classic graphic art techniques, showing people how to solve problems from scratch, to empower them with knowledge: How to make the paper, their brushes, the pigments...
If an art institution, be it a university or an art group in Europe, the U.S. or anywhere in the world is interested in having the Moku hanga technique taught in their premises, I am available to talk about a plan. I now reside in Stockholm but distances now are not what they used to be. I fluently speak English, Français, Español, some Japanese and some Swedish.
Curriculum Vitae
1965
2017
Wood block print
2018
CV
(See short version below)
I was born in Paris in 1959 and grew up in Mexico. Later on I studied in the U.S., France and Japan. With lithographer and inventor Per Anderson I co-designed and co-created the graphic arts center La Ceiba Gráfica in Coatepec, Ver., Mexico http://www.laceibagrafica.org/ing/index21.html where I opened the first moku hanga (Japanese wood-block printing) workshop in the country (see workshops). I developed the technological means to do it in Mexico without importing goods from Japan. I was also in charge of managing art student groups of various kinds. For the last 10 years, with Per Anderson and metal printer and director Rafael Ruiz, I have been developing this institution, now the most important graphic arts center with art residencies in Mexico.
I presently live in Sweden with my family.
LANGUAGES:
I fluently speak Spanish, English, French, some Japanese and some Swedish
STUDIES:
1981-2017: Tai Chi Chuan and Qi gong (in chronological order) with masters Huang Wen-chih in Olympia, Wa., U.S., Charles Li in Paris, France, Serges Dreyer in Toulouse, France, Akiko Nakamura in Yokohama-Shi, Japan, Jose Luis Vallejo in Xalapa, Mexico and Sai ying Lin in New York, U.S. www.taichiqigong.me and www.taichiqigong.strikingly.com
2016: Wood-turning with Joseph Deronzier, Giez, Haute-Savoie, France http://www.leclat-du-bois.com
1998 Restoration of antique furniture at the "Art Conservation Studio" in charge of Frederick Sager from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y. https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederick-j-sager-111-73b69545
1996: Lithography with Per Anderson in Coatepec, Ver., Mexico http://www.laceibagrafica.org/ing/index21.html
1990-95: Sculpture and woodworking at "El Palo" shop, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1985-89: Wood-Block printing (moku hanga, Ukiyo-E technique) at the Yoshida Hanga Academy, Tokyo, Japan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshida_family_artists and http://ryusei.nobody.jp/academy%2030kai%20kinenten.htm
1979: Photography at Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, Ca. https://www.facebook.com/LACCPhotographyDepartment/
Humanities at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wa. http://evergreen.edu
1976-79: High school at the Area “H” Alternative School, Los Angeles, Ca. https://www.facebook.com/AHASTimeline/
1974-76: Etching at the ‘El Izote’ Studio, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
ONE-MAN EXHIBITIONS:
2010: Galería Ramón Alva de la Canal, Xalapa, Ver. Mexico (large format digital photographs) https://www.uv.mx/galeriarac/general/bienvenido-a-la-pagina-web-de-la-galeria-universitaria-ramon-alva-de-la-canal/
2010: Galería de Arte Contemporáneo, Xalapa, Ver. Mexico (wood-block prints, an introduction to the japanese technique) http://www.mexicoescultura.com/recinto/58262/galeria-de-arte-contemporaneo-de-xalapa.html
2006: La Foto Gallery, los Angeles, Ca. U.S. (photographs and sculptures)
2006: Museo Casa Diego Rivera/Instituto de la Culture de Guanajuato, México (altars)
2005: Galería Ramón Alva de la Canal, Xalapa, Ver. Mexico (lithography and objects) https://www.facebook.com/galeriarac/?rf=174918699223250
2003-4: Pinacoteca Diego Rivera, Xalapa, Ver. Mexico (altars)
2002: Galería Ramón Alva de la Canal, Xalapa, Ver. Mexico (boxes)
1999: Mexican Cultural Institute, New York (boxes and altars) https://www.facebook.com/MCINY/
1999: Mexican Cultural Institute, Paris, France (boxes) http://next.paris.fr/es/principales-lugares-de-cultura/centros-culturales-extranjeros/institut-culturel-du-mexique-instituto-cultural-de-mexico/rub_8245_stand_34709_port_19052
1987: Galería de Artes Plásticas, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1986: Chikiudo Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan (watercolors)
1975: Preparatoria Juárez Gallery, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1974: Galería número Uno de la Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1970: Annecy Castle Museum, Annecy, France http://patrimoines.agglo-annecy.fr
1970: Stadtische Galerie Schlob, Oberhausen, Germany http://www.ludwiggalerie.de/de/ludwiggalerie/
1969: Kunsthalle Art Museum, Reklinghausen, Germany http://www.kunsthalle-recklinghausen.com/index.php?id=282
1968: Galería Victor Fosado, Mexico http://www.ebay.com/itm/Artista-mexicano-de-1968-Serigrafia-Firmada-Martin-Vinaver-surrealista-saltado-Caballo-/261646326304/?_ul=PY
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2018: Pucéart, MAÍZ MAÏS, espace Saint-rémi Bordeaux, France https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/46b4274e-32db-431e-8216-3ee6e9f607ae/CataloguePuceart2018%202.pdf
2018: Galleri Svea, Stockholm, Sweden
2017: Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro, Mexico
http://adninformativo.mx/disfruta-este-viernes-la-expo-la-ceiba-grafica-estampas-una-decada/
2017: Galleri Svea, Stockholm, Sweden
2015: 7th International Lithographic Symposium, Tidaholm, Sweden https://www.facebook.com/pg/stone.lithography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=867591763277865
2014: The White Gallery, Lakeville, Connecticut, U.S. http://www.thewhitegalleryart.com
2010: Philagrafika International Printmaker’s Open Forum http://www.philagrafika2010.org/node/256
2010: Midwives Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa. E.U. http://midwivescollective.blogspot.se (lithographs at the 2010 Philagrafika yearly U.S. show/symposium) http://u-in-u.com/philagrafika/2010/
2010: Museo Erasto Cortés, Puebla, Pue. Mexico “Wings over a floating world” kites printed with moku hanga, the japanese wood block printing technique and a moku hanga workshop offered at the museum by Martin Vinaver http://www.puebla.travel/es/museos/item/museo-taller-erasto-cortes-juarez
2009: Galería IVEC, Veracruz, Ver. México “Plástica Veracruzana Contemporánea”
2003-9: Various shows throughout Mexico with La Ceiba Gráfica (lithography)
2002: Galería del Ágora, Xalapa, Ver. IV Foro de Artistas Veracruzanos
2002: Galería del Ágora, Xalapa, Ver. in support of people with aniridia
2001: El Chopo Museum, México, D.F. "Ichigo Ichie" http://www.chopo.unam.mx
2001: Galería de Arte Contemporáneo (IVEC) Xalapa, Ver. "Laberinto"
2000: Centre Culturel de Margency, France http://www.fdmjc95.org/structure/cercle-culturel-de-margency
1999: Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington, DC. http://www.instituteofmexicodc.org
1999: Associated American Artists, New York "Review/Preview"
1998: Galería de Arte Mexicano, Mexico City, Mexico http://www.galeriadeartemexicano.com
1998: Associated American Artists, New York ‘On Paper’
1997: Susgrehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, Pa. ‘The richness of diversity: contemporary puerto rican and mexican artists’
1997: Brewster Arts LTD, Art Miami ’97 Miami Convention Center, Miami, Fla.
1996: Brewster Arts LTD, New York (miniatures)
1994: Petit Palais annual exhibition, Paris, France (through the Inter Art Gaymu Gallery, Paris)
1994: Galería Juan Martin, Mexico City, Mexico and a tour in several other galleries and Cultural Centers of Mexico (painted ostrich eggs) https://www.galeriajuanmartin.com
1989: 9th Sculpture Exhibition, Kanazawa, Japan
1989: Kabutoya Gallery, Ginza, Japan https://eventseeker.com/venue/666552-gallery-kabutoya-tokyo
1989: Galería Juan Martin, Mexico City, Mexico (tools)
1989: Galería Juan Martin, Mexico City, Mexico (self portraits)
1989: Tokyu Hands 6th Hands Grand Prix, Tokyo, Japan
1988: Kabutoya Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
1988: Galería Juan Martin, Mexico City, Mexico (masks)
1988: Galería Quiroga, Mexico City, Mexico
1987: Galería A.P. Facultad de artes Plásticas, Xalapa, Ver. México
1987: Galería Sloane-racotta, Mexico City, Mexico
1987: Pinacoteca Universitaria J.A.X.C., Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Pue., Mexico
1987: Galería Ramón Alva de la Canal, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1987: Virginia Breier Gallery, San Francisco, Ca. U.S.
1987: Exposición Laguna Verde, Agora, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1986: 6th Sculpture Exhibition, Kanazawa, Japan
1985: Kanda Gallery, Fussa, Japan
1985: 5th Sculpture Exhibition, Kanazawa, Japan
1984: 4th Sculpture Exhibition, Kanazawa, Japan
1984: Trienal de fotografía, Mexico City, Mexico
1971: 80 drawings at the Rouen Art Festival, Rouen, France
1970: Ferdinand Roten Gallery, Baltimore, U.S.
COMISSIONS AND PUBLICATIONS:
2002: CD cover illustrations for "Marimba Dúos" by Miguel González and Juan Martínez, Xalapa, Ver., México.
2000: CD cover illustrations for J.S. Bach El clave bien temperado, a guitar transcription and performance by Alfredo Sánchez and XOC
Marimba Duos by Miguel González, Juan Martínez, Diego Espinoza and José Rodríguez
1997: Production, playwriting and acting for the franco-mexican theater play: ‘Quetzalcóatl, el regreso’ or ‘La femme aux piments rouges’ with Jean Claude Leportier, Catherine Cremer, Djahel Vinaver and Martin Vinaver. Directed by Alain Schons. Provence, France
1991: Illustrations for the magazine ‘La Tarantula’, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
1983: Maquette for a documentary film on ancient french country houses, Paris, France
1981-2: Illustrations for 3 books for the S.E.P. (the mexican government’s education bureau), Mexico
1973: 3 covers for the magazine ‘Técnica Pesquera’, Mexico City, Mexico
1972: A drawing in the book ‘Les Maitres de l’Art Naif’ by Oto Bihalji-Merin, Brussels, La Connaissance Publishing, Belgium
1972: Novel ‘La Vida de Dos Novios’ text and illustrations by Martin Vinaver, John Muir Publications, Santa Fe, NM. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21991093?selectedversion=NBD591640
1971: The making of the poster for the Rouen art Festival, Rouen, France
1970: The making of the poster for the Museum of the City of Veracruz, Mexico
GRANTS AND PRIZES:
1997: For the production of the franco-mexican theater play: ‘Quetzalcóatl, el regreso’ or ‘La femme aux piments rouges’ we received
a mexican grant from the Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA) http://fonca.cultura.gob.mx and a french grant from the government of Provence.
2000: Won the New York martial arts Tai chi chuan championship with the 42 movement competition sequence.
2003-4: Grant from the Instituto de Cultura de Veracruz (IVEC) http://www.ivec.gob.mx for the making of sculptures “altars”. They were later shown at the
Pinacoteca Diego Rivera gallery in Xalapa, Ver., Mexico
ARTWORK IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:
Instituto de Artes Graficas de Oaxaca, (IAGO) wood block prints (moku-hanga) and lithographs http://institutodeartesgraficasdeoaxaca.blogspot.se
Museo Erasto Cortés, Puebla, Pue. wood block prints (moku-hanga) http://www.puebla.travel/es/museos/item/museo-taller-erasto-cortes-juarez
La Ceiba Gráfica, Coatepec, Ver. Lithographs, wood block prints (moku-hanga) and sculptures http://www.laceibagrafica.org/ing/index21.html
Museo Nacional de la Estampa, Mexico City, Mexico (lithographs) http://www.museonacionaldelaestampa.bellasartes.gob.mx/
WORKSHOPS GIVEN:
2014: Moku hanga (japanese Wood block printing) at the Fine Art Sudio Services, Lakeville, CT U.S.A.
2011: Moku hanga (japanese Wood block printing) at CASA (San Agustín Etla Arts Center), Oaxaca, Mexico http://www.academictoursoaxaca.com/oaxaca/san_agustin_etla.php
2011: Moku hanga at PBI (Paper and Book Intensive) art sabbatical, Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, MI. U.S. http://www.paperbookintensive.org/2011/classes.html
2010-14: Monthly moku hanga workshops at La Ceiba Gráfica, Coatepec, Ver. Mexico. http://www.laceibagrafica.org/ing/index21.html
WORK EXPERIENCE:
I am an artist but I have worked in other areas as well:
Having been brough up in a farm, I know about agriculture, cattle raising, beekeeping, driving trucks and tractors, etc.
2006-2013: Managing and teaching art and self-sufficiency to groups in a graphic arts institution: http://www.laceibagrafica.org/ing/index21.html www.laceibagrafica.org
2009-2013: Teaching art workshops in Mexico and the U.S., at: http://talleresyax.blogspot.se/p/moku-hanga-grabado-en-madera-con-la.html http://www.casa.oaxaca.gob.mx/index.php/en/ and at: http://www.paperbookintensive.org/2011/classes.html
1998-1999: Coordination and mounting of art exhibitions in Mexico, Japan, France and the U.S.
1998-1999: Coaching people with dissabilities through art in Harlem, New York
1984-2017: Teaching Tai chi chuan and Qi gong for the past 33 years to a variety of groups, from private to corporate www.taichichuanqigong.me and www.taichichuan.strikingly.com
1992: I designed and built my house with the traditional European/Middle-Eastern pounded earth technique www.indara.strikingly.com
1997-1998: High-end carpentry work at Bill Rybak’s Studio, 459 W 15th St. N.Y. doing window-display paraphernalia for stores like Cole Haan and Sacks Fifth Avenue
2014-2015: Construction work: Carpentry, painting, demolition, Stockholm, Sweden.
With Contender AB and independently
2002-2017 Have been administering a 12–apartment building since 2002 www.ballenaemplumada.strikingly.com
My CV in short:
I was raised and worked in a farm in Mexico, studied high school and college in the U.S. did a 4-year apprenticeship in Japan on traditional wood-block printing, studied biodynamic beekeeping with permaculture guidelines, began my studies of Tai chi chuan in Paris 35 years ago and have not stoped since.
I am a:
painter, sculptor, printer, photographer, writer, inventor, designer, farmer, beekeeper, house builder and apartment building administrator, carpenter, Tai chi and qigong instructor, father, husband and a world citizen conscious of the environment.
As an artist I have had 17 one-man shows, more than 43 group shows, have artwork in 4 museums and art institutions, have taught countless times Japanese wood-block printing workshops in Mexico and the U.S. and have co-designed with lithographer, paper maker and inventor Per Anderson, the most important self-sustainable graphic arts center in Mexico, where I conducted research and opened the first Japanese wood-block printing workshop in the country.
I have taught for over 33 years Tai chi chuan and Qigong and have worked in a number of other related activities.
I presently live in Sweden with my family, working for a company, doing all kinds of small jobs, such as carpentry, painting, gardening and as a repair man of all kinds. I also teach Tai chi to individuals through Skype, so they can learn from the comfort of their homes.
I speak Spanish, French, English, some Japanese and some Swedish.
martinvinaver@gmail.com
(+46) 764289107
Munkkärrsvägen 12, 13236 Saltsjö Boo
Sweden
Last exhibition
at Svea Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
The latest piece
The opossum
Watercolor and digital
2019
Would you like to have one of these paintings?
Well, maybe your living room is not as pink as this one...
...or as white as this one,
But you could certainly have one of my paintings in your bedroom or living room...
Here you can shop artwork and tools for Japanese wood-block printing
If you see a piece of art in this website that you like, let me know, I may still have it.
There are also custom-made images that could be made from the design of your tattoo...
What are the images about?
People very often want to know the meaning of an image and I think that we are misled by trying to rationalise it all. When we listen to classical or abstract music, we don't try to rationalise it. We just enjoy it and ¨take it in¨ through different channels. This happens the same way with other forms of art, with love or when we taste delicious food. So when you look at a painting and you just let yourself feel it, you are letting your other channels do their job and you can enjoy it and feed your being at another level. Don't always try to dissect things with your mind. When you do it, you often miss the point. There is much more than meets the eye. We have to let our intuition come back to us, let our antennae grow back so we can enjoy life in a wider spectrum. if you like the painting or it ¨speaks to you¨, that's it.
Then, you acquire it.
The originals are made with watercolors, inks, sometimes graphite, sometimes gold leaf...
The digitized images are made from watercolors, photographs and other media.
About our moku hanga Barens and Knives
Stainless-steel ball-bearing Baren
This baren doesn't need a bamboo sheath cover.
I recommend using silicon-based oil instead of plant-based oil, like olive or camellia oil, to lubricate the ball bearings in the baren. The reason is that plant-based oil can become gummy over time, causing the ball bearings to stop moving. Because silicon is not good for plant fiber paper, do not use a silicon-oiled baren directly on the printing paper. Place a piece of backing paper like ategami, baking parchment between the baren and printing paper. Ideally, lay a piece of thin acetate film or polyfilm smooth side down over the printing paper, spraying your ategawa, the baren's docking carpet, with the silicon oil, and then printing with the baren.
The baren has a stainless-steel backing for the ball-bearings, for smooth rolling.
Premium knife set
Made from metal-file steel, from the best brands that were made to last.
The Hangi To and Sho To (knives) are used to outline areas. Sankaku To (v-gouges) are often used to carve thin lines and interesting textures.
Komasuki and Maru To (u-gouges) are used to outline, create texture and clear away wood. Most people find it easier to cut curved lines with Komasuki or Maru To than with Sankaku To.
Aisuki and Hira To (chisels) are used to clear, make textural marks and take off the tall, sharp ridges left behind by Maru To or Komasuki cuts.
Our sealed caps are designed with a naphthalene ball that fills the chamber with an anti-rusting gas for long lasting protection.
Tool size and proportion in relation to hand
How to hold most of the knives
Currencies & shipping
Wondering about the money?
The amounts are represented in US dollars and the system walks you through the steps, so even if you have Mongolian tögrög or Botswanan pula, it's no problem, it will work.
Wondering about the shipping?
It is on the house, which means, the shipping is included in the price if I send it to you by regular mail. I am in Sweden and Swedish mail is very efficient. For example, a shipment to the U.S. takes from 3 to 5 working days and to Poland 5 days. Depending on your country's mailing efficiency, once the envelope or package is in your country's jurisdiction, it may take longer than 5 days.
If, however, you want it super extra fast and you are willing to pay for it, I can send it to you by DHL, which within Europe will cost 30€, to the U.S. and Canada roughly 50 US$ and to the rest of the world, the equivalent to 60 US$
Links to my other activities
Touch images to open links
Contact
martinvinaver@gmail.com
(+46) 764289107 Sweden
(+52) 2281548066 Mexico
Copyright 2015