Entertainment
14 December, 2023
Wood focus of exhibits
EDMONTON artist Yvonne Hering is making a name for herself in the international art world with her artistry in mokuhanga – woodblock printing.
Working out of her studio, Kentocorner, Ms Hering is understandably proud about her two recent advancements as a mokuhanga artist.
“I have pursued this passion for many years and now MI-LAB (Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory) from Tokyo in Japan has awarded me an advanced artist-in-residence for August 2024 held in Echizen,” she said.
“I was also selected for the Juried Exhibition and Showcase for the 2024 International Mokuhanga Conference, Inheritance and Innovation: Mokuhanga Artists Explore Japanese Paper in April 2024.
“I enjoy revealing the delights of mokuhanga to our northern artists and have been teaching, giving workshops, taking tours to Japan, teaching art and exhibiting all over the North for many years.”
Ms Hering said there always tended to be a little humour in the way she looked at things.
“Farmers want to blast those noisy cockatoos, but they make me laugh as they do get me out of bed in the mornings.” Hence one of her favourite woodblock prints, Woken.
“Life in the north is rural, full of day-to-day images that echo those in Japan. It’s sugar cane, not rice, Walsh’s Pyramid not Fuji-san, bamboo, trees, birds, mountains in both places.”
Closer to home, Cairns Regional Council also awarded Ms Hering an RADF grant to attend the international conference as part one of a two-part project. The second part is attracting an Australian/International Exhibition of woodblock printing and workshops here in Cairns in August 2025.
Ms Hering gave a workshop in Brisbane this year as part of the Australian Mokuhanga exhibition there.
Here in the north you can see Ms Hering’s work at an exhibition, North, where her work features with that of artist Julie Haysom, a mix of acrylics and woodblock art at Copperlode Brewing Co.
The exhibition at the Hargreaves St, Edmonton location celebrates life in the north and features original arts works by both for sale.
The exhibition is on until the end of December with another to follow based on the ‘North’ idea.
“We are calling for people to email us their favourite ‘North’ photo and we will recruit artists who can be inspired by them.”
Ms Hering runs Japanese woodcut art classes every Saturday morning at Cominos House (9am to noon) in Edge Hill, with holiday season workshops scheduled including one on Tuesday, December 19 from 1pm to 4pm.
For more information email Ms Hering on kentocorner@gmail.com or phone 0476 164637.
