The Kabuki Actor Prints of Tsuruya Kōkei

The Kabuki Actor Prints of Tsuruya Kōkei

In January 1989, the Pacific Asia Museum will feature a unique and vibrant look at the world of Japanese Kabuki theater through 60 woodblock prints of the artist, Tsuruya Kōkei. As the official artist of the Grand Kabuki Theater, Kōkei captures the elements of today's Kabuki: the drama, emotions, and humor of the stage characters. His portraits of actors places him alongside past masters by linking two artistic traditions unique to Japan- the colored woodblock print and Kabuki theater.

With common roots in the early Edo period (17th to mid-19th centuries), the arts of ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and Kabuki started within fifteen years of each other and followed parallel courses of development. Both art forms were created to capture the customs, ideals, and emotions of the era- a time when townspeople appreciated and distinguished their own culture and customs from other classes.

Kōkei's prints are certainly distinctive, not only portraying leading Kabuki actors, but expressing the feelings of intensity and sensitivity within each character. By focusing on the face and hands of the actors, these portraits depict the impact of a particular scene, for in Kabuki the movements and gestures convey as much meaning as the dialogue.

Most of Kōkei's prints are bust portraits, or okubi-e, of the type developed by the great 18th century artist, Sharaku. With backgrounds of ground mica, soft but striking color combinations, and fine use of lines, Kōkei achieves such a realistic sense of motion and dynamic tension that the actors seem ready to step out and assume their dramatic roles.

One must resist the temptation to view Kōkei's work as derived solely from Sharaku tradition, for although he demonstrates the same grace and strength, Kōkei's work clearly stands on its own. His portraits are not realistic in the sense that one might be able to recognize particular actors, but rather they depict the power and strength within each actor and character.

Unlike great ukiyo-e artists of the past, Kōkei carves his own blocks and produces his own printing. In addition, he utilizes a very thin paper called ganpi, which gives a rich color reproduction but is also the most difficult of all papers to use. After making a limited number of prints of a given picture, he destroys the blocks. This procedure not only ensures against unauthorized copies but, says Kōkei, completes the process of creating a picture allowing him to fully concentrate on his next project.

More recently, Kōkei has produced full length portraits of actors reminiscent of the format of the artist Shunsho (1726-1793). Though a very difficult task, Kōkei succeeds admirably, creating the same vivid characterizations as he does with his bust prints.

The exhibition of 60 prints by Tsuruya Kōkei has been organized by the Shochiku Company Ltd., management company of the Grand Kabuki Theater, as part of a celebration of the Theater's 100th anniversary. An illustrated catalogue accompanies this fascinating exhibit.

17 January 1989 to 11 May 1989