AKIYAMA IWAO

Woodblock. Born 1921 Oita Prefecture.
Educated at Taheiyo Art School where he studied under the woodblock print master, Munakata Shiko.

Permanent Collections: the British Museum, London; the National Museum of England, National Art Museum Victoria, Australia; National Museum of Scotland; Cincinnati Art Museum, Ohio; Museum of Japanese Art, Haifa, Israel.

Akiyama was deeply influenced by the wondering haiku poet and Zen priest, Santouka Taneda. In his wonderfully naive and whimsical woodblock images, Akiyama often adds simple sayings of profound meaning. The wondering monk with his staff or the owl, are recurring themes in his works.

There is something appealingly rough and unfinished about these prints, first in their use of folk-craft paper, spotted with bits of the outer bark of the mulberry shrub, and second in the rough edges of the images. This is clearly an intentional avoidance of elegant refinement, which at times fools the eye, making leaves seem to quiver and animals emerge from camouflaging backgrounds.

AKIYAMA IWAO: Bow of Sunshine
Title: Bow of Sunshine
Date: 1995
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 160
Image size: 28 x 19cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Slanted Moon - SOLD OUT
Title: Slanted Moon - SOLD OUT
Date: 1992
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 160
Image size: 38 x 27cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Hiau Hiau
Title: Hiau Hiau - SOLD OUT
Date: 1996
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 8/100
Image size: 30 x 23cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Can't Sleep Either
Title: Can't Sleep Either
Date: 1997
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 160
Image size: 27 x 19cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: The Only Road
Title: The Only Road
Date: 1997
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 160
Image size: 20 x 26cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Don't Worry
Title: Don't Worry - SOLD OUT
Date: 1982
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 200
Image size: 31 x 21cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Distant Mist
Title: Distant Mist
Date: 1993
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 160
Image size: 35 x 25cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Good Moon
Title: Good Moon
Date: 1983
Medium: Woodblock
Edition:
Image size: 34 x 24cm
AKIYAMA IWAO: Love Owls
Title: Love Owls
Date: 1997
Medium: Woodblock
Edition: 160
Image size: 24 x 21cm