On View in West Bend
Hideki SuzukI
Mukashi Mukashi
Past Exhibition
June 21—September 14
MOWA | West Bend
About the Exhibition
Storytelling is at the heart of this exhibition of hand-carved wooden masks by Madison-based artist Hideki Suzuki.
OPENING PARTY June 21 | 11:00 —1:00
ARTIST TALK July 19 | 1:00
Storytelling is at the heart of this exhibition of hand-carved wooden masks by Madison-based artist Hideki Suzuki. Mukashi Mukashi—which translates from Japanese to English as “long, long ago”—is the traditional way stories begin in Japan, not unlike “once upon a time” in the English language. Upon hearing those words, the audience adopts a specific mindset and shiftsinto a comfortable position, readying themselves for the story about to unfold. For Suzuki, this active space of anticipation between storyteller and listener perfectly sets the stage for his artform. Featuring a roster of characters—signs from the Chinese Zodiac, hybrid creatures, or nature gods—these animated faces gaze intently, eliciting a laugh or beckoning closer scrutiny.
Born and raised in Japan, Suzuki crafts masks that follow the tradition of Japanese Noh theater, which dates from the fourteenth century and tells tales of the supernatural from Japanese literature. He also creates masks with contemporary meaning, inspired by recent Japanese culture and history. Carved from soft and pliable basswood, then finished with layers of chalk and gelatin, Suzuki’s masks evoke the look of aged wood, patinated bronze, or weathered stone, not unlike ancient Japanese sculpture. A prolific artist with a passion for woodworking, he has carved over 100 masks in the past six years. Mukashi Mukashi is Suzuki’s first solo museum exhibition.