New Art Gallery of Greater Victoria exhibit explores relationship between painting and print-making 

Something exciting is coming for the art lovers and deep thinkers out there.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) is introducing a new exhibit on May 16th that explores the relationship between painting and print-making.

From Brush to Block: Paintings and Prints by Imao Keinen and Kono Bairei highlights two renowned Japanese painters and examines how their images move across media, from hand-painted surfaces to printed impressions.

By placing the two mediums side by side, the exhibit aims to open a window into the creative process.

The showcase asks how ideas transform as they move through material change, and how meaning can be shaped by the medium that artwork lives on.

“From Brush to Block is not simply an exhibition about paintings and prints,” said Dr. Heng Wu, the curator of Asian art at AGGV.

“It is about artistic translation, showing how an image takes on new forms as it moves from the hand of the painter into the collaborative world of woodblock printing.”

Fans love Keinen and Bairei for their bird and flower imagery. The artists’ compositions were transformed into printed editions during the Meiji era in Japan, reflecting a moment in Japanese visual culture when it embraced the reach of printed publications while honouring the sensitivity and elegance of their original creations.

Mark your calendars and be one of the first to see this exhibit!

The gallery is always free for AGGV members, ‘SEE ART’ pass holders, those aged 25 and younger, Indigenous people, support workers and accompanying visitors. It is also free for all guests on the first Saturday of each month, as well as on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From Brush to Block launches May 16th. For more information, and to learn more about the exhibit visit the AGGV website here.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

• Where: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street

• When: May 16th to October 11th

• • Tuesday and Wednesday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Thursday – 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sunday – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.