Fluorescent Smogg presents ‘Chikyu’

Fluorescent Smogg are proud to present ‘Chikyu’ – a 21 colour screen print from Japanese artist Taku Obata.

Taku Obata is a multidisciplinary artist spanning sculpture, painting and print making. With his playful approach, Taku transitions seamlessly between figurative and abstract styles with compositions inspired by history, nature and culture. Fusing traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary arts practice, he forges dynamic and surprising compositions, the largest of which is this production with UK based print house, Fluorescent Smogg.

Taku Obata

Artist, Taku Obata, said of the silkscreen prints:

“This edition of 21 colour silkscreen prints was very exciting to make; I’ve never seen a silkscreen print of this scale with so many layers. I visited the print studio in England and was very surprised and impressed at the printing technology and machinery. To enhance the edition, I have also hand finished 10 copies to make this part of the edition completely unique.”

Whether carving from a single block of wood or mounds of paint; Taku considers his process to be one of ‘sculptural’ thinking.

Taku continues: “It’s on canvas, but what I’m doing is sculpture. Considering the paint as ‘volume’ and moving that ‘volume’ around in the same way as sculpture”

Fluorescent Smogg said:

“Taku’s mark making is totally unique and for us, an almost direct translation of his sculptural 2D work process. With this release we want to capture his mark making as closely as possible. To achieve that we utilised cutting edge technology within printmaking to edition an original piece of Taku’s work at a 1:1 scale. The detail in the reproduction is truly incredible and we’re proud to say that this looks more like an original than anything we’ve created before.”

Chikyu

21 colour silkscreen print on Somerset Satin 600gsm with Torn Edges

90cm x 170cm

Edition of 30 +10 hand finished prints.

The edition will be available from 14th October via Fluorescent Smogg

About the Artist:

B-BOY/sculptor, Taku Obata, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts with a Master’s degree in sculpture in 2008. As a B-BOY, Obata explores the relationship between the human body and its garment through wood sculptures, as well as the space the sculpture is situated, movement, and gravity that arise from B-BOY and sculpture. Obata continues to express himself actively through his sculptures, as well as in other mediums. *B-BOY (breakdancer)

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