Reference: FUJIMOTO004
Title: HanaXMimi
Date: NA
Author: Hana Fujimoto & Mimi Forrest
Details: Screen Printed Materials
Media: Textiles
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: A collaborative project exploring unconventional screen printing techniques using found materials. The aim of this project was to explore textiles and printing in a very broad sense. All pieces were created intuitively; mostly using open screens and found materials with resist techniques.

Reference: FUJIMOTO006
Title: Lockdown Paintings
Date: 2020
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: Photographs of Hana Fujimoto's Lockdown Paintings
Media: Paintings
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: Accumulative paintings made at home from lockdown periods.

Reference: FUJIMOTO007
Title: Painting at Home
Date: 2020
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: Series of painted works
Media: Paintings
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: A typical set up of how I would paint at home; I always pull-out different images from my collection of art books to set a mood and what I am feeling inspired by on that day.

Reference: FUJIMOTO008
Title: Prints on Paper
Date: 2019
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: Series of print making pieces
Media: Screen prints
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: Screen prints on paper made in a studio space I used to rent in Brixton when living in London.

Reference: FUJIMOTO014
Title: Young Trees Wrapped in Hay
Date: 2020
Author: Unknown
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: I came across this object in a temple garden in Japan in January 2020. The young trees are delicately wrapped in hay and securely woven with yarn to protect them from the cold winter. I’d never encountered such a practice and was amazed at how odd, unintentionally beautiful and sculptural they were. I really like the idea of wrapping/packaging and the act of something practical that is concealing a precious object which then becomes a new object in it’s own entirety. Particularly as this is a part of Japanese culture that I love and am constantly fascinated by.

Reference: FUJIMOTO009
Title: Sketchbook
Date: NA
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: Artist sketchbook
Media: Sketchbook
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: The use of sketchbooks and journals are an important part of my practice as this is where I start to generate my primary research when starting any body of work. It's a place where I gather images, thoughts as well as quick sketches or experiments when I am trying to work things out. I also like to use sketchbooks as a warm up exercise before a studio session to ease into the day and set the tone. Keeping a regular practice of drawing and writing is very important for me as there are definitely periods when I am less active in producing art where sketchbooks allow me to exercise and keep my creative brain nimble.

Reference: FUJIMOTO033
Title: Products of Regular Practice before Maternity Leave
Date: 2021
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: Products of regular practice before maternity leave
Media: Paintings
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: Products of regular practice in my studio drawing on inspiration from daily life. I have also been a lot more productive and making the most of the last few months as I am leaving my studio on maternity leave.

Reference: FUJIMOTO001
Title: Bristol Studio and Artwork
Date: 2021
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: Photographs depicting Hana's work within her studio space
Media: Photographs
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: Paintings and studies made in my studio in Bristol which I moved into in February 2021 after having the opportunity to get back into a regular practice with my art from the start of the pandemic and being in lockdown.

Reference: FUJIMOTO010
Title: Dogū
Date: 10,000–300 BC
Author: Unknown
Details: Dogū, which translates as “earthen figure” are small humanoid and animal figurines from the Jōmon period of prehistoric Japan.
Media: Clay models
Credit: e-yakimono.net/dogu

Description: I first encountered these figures in a Japanese children’s book that I owned when I was younger. It was my favourite story book and brought i mages of these strange clay figures to life. Something about the animated, bold faces have remained ingrained in my memory throughout my life. Many artefacts from Japanese history have and continue to inspire my work. However, I feel that these were first to leave an impression on me. I drew countless pictures of them in my childhood and it still amazes me that such craftsmanship existed in prehistoric times.

Reference: FUJIMOTO011
Title: The Medium is the Massage
Date: 1967
Author: Marshall MacLuhan and Quentin Fior
Details: The book is 160 pages in length and composed in an experimental, collage style with text superimposed on visual elements and vice versa. Some pages are printed backwards and are meant to be read in a mirror. Some are intentionally left blank. Most contain photographs and images both modern and historic, juxtaposed in startling ways.
Media: Publication
Credit: wikipedia.org/The_Medium_Is_the_Massage

Description: I read this book around 8 years ago before I owned a smartphone or prescribed to mainstream social media. I was astounded by McLuhan’s views and predictions on the effect of modern mass media on society. Since revisiting the text over the last few years, it has had a profound effect on my personal reflection on how the rise of technology has affected the way we communicate and interact with the world. Particularly as the rapid rate of technological advancement has become the norm. This text continues to inspire me because it helps me to question my own practice and struggle with technology.

Reference: FUJIMOTO012
Title: Paint Brushes and a Water Pot
Date: 2021
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: An image depicting a selection of paint brushes and water
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: A selection of paint brushes in a Twinings tea can which I have accumulated and been using for over 10 years and a handleless mug from my primary school which became a water pot when the handle broke about 20 years ago. They hold sentimental value and I have a superstition that they provide good luck, especially as I don’t like to work with tools that are new and not worn in.

Reference: FUJIMOTO013
Title: No. 4
Date: 1970
Author: Robert Motherwell
Details: Robert Motherwell was an American abstract expressionist painter, printmaker, and editor.
Media: Screenprint
Credit: wikipedia.org/Robert_Motherwell

Description: Robert Motherwell’s paintings have inspired my work for many years. His expressive marks and use of colour in particular are what I always come back to as a reference source. The proportion in which each colour is applied creates a harmonious yet striking balance, which is what I strive to achieve when making a piece of work. There is something unexplainable in the quality of his works which triggers a strong, emotive response and I find myself being drawn back to time and time again.

Reference: FUJIMOTO018
Title: Bodmin
Date: 2020
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: Bodmin was taken in Cornwall by the coast on a family holiday. The colours and textures were what interested me in this stone.

Reference: FUJIMOTO029
Title: Osechi
Date: 2019
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: My upbringing is strongly rooted in memory of food as my mother is such a talented cook in Japanese cuisine and it was always such a ritualistic practice. We struggled financially growing up, but she would always create such a sense of occasion with her cooking, often creating what would seem a banquet to most people. Her creativity in many ways continues to inspire my practice.

Reference: FUJIMOTO031
Title: Tea at Mama's House
Date: 2020
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: Tea at mama's house again evokes a real sense of nostalgia for me. I refer to her as 'mama' which is common in Japanese to refer to your mother in an endearing / familial way. She would always put on a pot of Japanese tea and serve some fruit or homemade snacks when we get home and whenever I now visit her as an adult.

Reference: FUJIMOTO028
Title: Ojiichan and Ojiichan's House
Date: 2020
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: The photos are of my grandfather and his house in Japan. I flew over to Japan with my mother and sister at the beginning of 2020 after my grandmother passed away. My grandfather is 88 years old in that photograph and the house he still lives in is where my mother grew up and I have visited many times over my life. It has a real sense of home and nostalgia for me as it has remained unchanged for as long as I can remember. I have great respect for my grandfather, he is a kind and generous man and is somewhat a father figure to me as I don't know or have never met my own father, and so feel somewhat disconnected to my non-Japanese side of heritage.

Reference: FUJIMOTO023
Title: Kyoto
Date: 2020
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: These images evoke some sense of comfort and inspire me daily.

Reference: FUJIMOTO020
Title: Cats in Split
Date: 2019
Author: Hana Fujimoto
Details: From the artist’s photography archive
Media: Photograph
Credit: Courtesy of the artist

Description: These images evoke some sense of comfort and inspire me daily.