Hiroko Imada
Born in Tokyo, Hiroko Imada graduated from Tokyo Zokei University in 1988. The artist moved to London in 1990 and continued her study at the Slade School of Fine Art (University College London). She has exhibited throughout Europe and Japan and has also been awarded several prestigious commissions. These include commissioning a site-specific installation at the Great Court of the British Museum as a part of the Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave exhibition official event (2017). In 2019, Universal Pictures commissioned Imada to create a painting for the blockbuster film Fast and Furious 9 (premiered in 2021). In 2021, the British Museum commissioned her to create a woodblock print, and its production process was recorded as a film to run at the exhibition Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything (2021 – 22). In 2022, Imada created a Japanese colour woodblock print inspired by a work from the Royal Collection and its production process was filmed and presented at Japan: Courts and Culture exhibition from April 2022 until February 2023 at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Most recently, renowned British shoe brand Dr. Martens commissioned Imada to create a woodblock print of their new logo 'Dr. Martens X The Met (Katsushika Hokusai)’ to commemorate the new partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Its process was filmed at Imada’s studio and the artist herself also appears in the promotional film.
​
Artist statement
After the successful completion of interactive installation work: Making Waves – the official event of Hokusai, Beyond the Great Wave in the Great Court of the British Museum in 2017, I decided to further develop an exhibition, Shapes of Water, through different formats. Inspired by Hokusai’s ‘Great Wave’, I presented my own approach to the shapes of water. The unique abstract style is very bold and dynamic yet evocative and delicate, seeking to stimulate and broaden the viewer's imagination.
​
For this series, I have focused on creating works using different techniques. For Cultural Fusion 2023, I am presenting screen print and lithography works. I often use Japanese traditional techniques with a contemporary twist.
​
I also worked with a young British composer and flutist Nicholas Sabisky specifically in forming my works. I believe that the music and my artworks together open up the imagination to deeper levels.
Hiroko Imada, Splash I, 2018
Screenprint
102 cm (h) X 80 cm (w)
Hiroko Imada, Splash II, 2018
Screenprint
102 cm (h) X 80 cm (w)
Hiroko Imada, Splash III, 2018
Screenprint
80 cm (h) X 120 cm (w)
​
I was invited to attend the Guanlan International Residency programme at the Guanlan Original Printmaking Base, Shenzhen, China in 2018. Splash I – III were produced and editioned during my residency there from April to May 2018. Here I tried to create splashes of water in a lighter touch of colours. The water-based printing ink contributes to expressing the natural state of water movement too.
The music composed for Splash I – III
Dancing Waves (for solo flute)
composed and played by Nicholas Sabisky
This piece was specially composed for Splash I – III and is inspired by the wildness and drama of the waves in Imada's prints. The piece incorporates extended and contemporary flute techniques to create a bold and aggressive soundscape.
Hiroko Imada, Shapes of Water I, 2018
Stone Lithography
75 cm (h) X 53.5 cm (w)
Hiroko Imada, Shapes of Water III, 2018
Stone Lithography
75 cm (h) X 53.5 cm (w)
Hiroko Imada, Shapes of Water II, 2018
Stone Lithography
75 cm (h) X 53.5 cm (w)
Hiroko Imada, Shapes of Water IV, 2018
Stone Lithography
75 cm (h) X 53.5 cm (w)
Shapes of Water I – IV in landscape format
​
I was invited to attend the Guanlan International Residency programme at the Guanlan Original Printmaking Base, Shenzhen, China in 2018. Shapes of Water I – IV were produced and editioned during my residency there from April to May 2018. These works can be presented individually or in a set of 4 together. I tried to capture the bold big movement of water and to emphasise it I only used black colour for these prints.
The music composed for Shapes of Water I – IV
Title: The Calm before the Storm (for two flutes)
Themes created by Nicholas Sabisky
Improvised and played by Nicholas Sabisky and Meg Storer
The improvisatory nature is crucial to this piece as Megan and Nicholas take the themes which they explore and pass them between each other. This captures the unique quality found in the air before a storm arrives to stir up the sea.
Hiroko Imada, Shapes of Water exhibition, Sway Gallery London 2018