Kawase Hasui, Kikoji Temple, Nara (Kikoji, Naraken)
Recommended by Emma (Marketing & Communications Manager):
"Pictures simply can't do justice to this masterful work by Hasui. The precise and crisp imagery, the effortless reflections in the water, and the gorgeous range of teal and pink tones create a stunning world so real and rare that you want to slip into it and disappear. The scene is perfect serenity."
Jenny Holzer, Murder Has Its Sexual Side
Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):
"Jenny Holzer is one of my favorite artists, and she continues to use language to attack, provoke, and otherwise call out wrongs in the world, including in the Trump era. What I find most compelling about her work is its simplicity and its audacity. Holzer has famously said: "I used language because I wanted to offer content that people – not necessarily art people – could understand." Her work doesn't usually rely on a specific medium; the words could be on an electronic billboard, a t-shirt, or a postcard like this one. However this piece is so excellent because the red text and imperfect printing highlight the message."
Seiichi Hiroshima, Iwana - Nakatsugawa (Char - A River In Central Honshu)
Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):
"I have always appreciated how Hiroshima can capture the personalities and unique characters of his animals. In this piece, the bright eyes and open mouth of the fish make it seem alive and alert. The artist is also excellent with the color mezzotint technique. Here the dark blues and reds of the water tells the viewer that the fish is swimming deep in the river. The color gradients in the water and the fish's belly are incredibly smooth and natural."
Honoré Daumier, La Carte A Payer - Et Pas Assez D'Argent
Recommended by Sam (Owner & Director):
"Once again Daumier captures a key moment, which many of us have experienced as restaurant patrons when we realize that we do not have the funds to pay for our meal. The artist's lithographic crayon drawing, one of so many he contributed to Le Charivari and La Caricature, is so expressive. His social awareness and commentary on political figures, the legal profession (Les Gens de Justice), the abuse of women (Les Bas Bleu series) and so many other social conventions of 19th century France; represent a powerful legacy that is still relevant today."
Toru Sugita, Transient Monument #4
Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):
"Sugita’s transient monument series highlights the temporal aspect of human transit, as we travel around in our cars, buses, trains, bikes, etc. Something I took for granted before Seattle’s lockdown began. In Transient Monument #4, we do not see any people. Instead we see two great forces - the man made steel bridge and the water beneath it. Both things are often only seen in passing, until we slow down and really take a second look."
