Yuji Hiratsuka, an accomplished artist and art educator, has been a part of the Oregon State University community for almost 30 years, and his artwork is currently being featured in OSU’s Memorial Union Gallery in a retrospective exhibit currently on display. The Advocate recently spoke with Hiratsuka about his MU exhibit, and about the processes involved in making his work.
The pieces included in the exhibit are vibrant and full of contrasting hues, showcasing an often whimsical approach to art. Hiratsuka describes his artwork as being focused on the human form, while also incorporating objects such as furniture and elaborate garments. Birds, animals, and fruit often make an appearance in his work as well.
Many of his pieces explore a cultural crossover of sorts: in one piece, a woman is adorned in a traditional kimono top that is combined with a western-style hoop skirt. In another, two women sit together, one dressed in a kimono, and the other wearing a skirt, top, and high heels.
Intaglio Printmaking
Intaglio printmaking, an art form Hiratsuka is well known for, is not a simple process.
After coming up with the initial sketches and plans for a piece, copper plates are etched to create the desired textures and images. Each color has its own copper plate, and must be added to the work one at a time in overlapping layers. Each layer can take days or weeks to fully dry, according to Hiratsuka.
He describes the relationship between ink, paper, and etched plates as “complex.”
With some knowledge on the general printmaking process, one can’t help but marvel at each piece, wondering how long it must have taken to complete. In addition, the copper plates used to create images are quite unforgiving — even wiping the ink off a plate can sometimes lead to scratches, which result in a visible mark on paper. “You have to incorporate those mistakes,” says Hiratsuka.
Those “mistakes” are often what create such rich and intricate texture on paper. Although his artwork has undergone slight stylistic changes over the years, Hiratsuka says his interest “is always based on [the] unpredictable texture that is printed from the etched surface of the copper plate.”
The MU Exhibit
The MU exhibit features work from throughout Hiratsuka’s career, representing some of his favorite pieces created over the last 30 years.
“In the past, I used to make work on a much bigger scale,” he says, as he showed off some pieces that were twice the size of those surrounding them.
These large works are actually two separate pieces placed side by side, their images matching up at precisely the right place to create a continuous image. To an eye untrained in printmaking, this detail could easily go unnoticed.
Hiratsuka is recognized as a Distinguished Professor of Art at OSU, and is a beloved mentor and teacher to many. After nearly 30 years working for the university, Hiratsuka is retiring from his position in December. This retrospective exhibit celebrates Hiratsuka’s years of dedication, hard work, and artistry.
The exhibit is free and will be open for viewing in the OSU Memorial Union Gallery until Dec. 10. The gallery is located at 112 Memorial Union, Corvallis, OR 97331. Face masks are required indoors on OSU’s campus.
By Olivia Goodfriend
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