Alphabet // No. 09

Sosaku Hanga is a Japanese printmaking movement from the early 20th century. Unlike its more traditional ancestor, Shin Hanga, in which the artist relies on the expert skills of professional carvers, printers, and publishers to produce an edition, Sosaku Hanga artists design, carve, print, and publish their work themselves, resulting in a more personal and connected approach to the art form.

These prints are carved and printed by hand using only wood, water-based inks, and natural long-fiber paper. Due to the dynamic nature of these materials, flaws are inevitable and make repeated failure an intrinsic part of the meticulous, labor-intensive process.

Inspired by the Japanese alphabets of Hiragana and Katakana, these one-of-a-kind woodblock prints are a new alphabet. Built on a geometric grid system of thirds, these colors and forms are the printed expression of my own inner visual language. Their imperfections speak to the inability of letters and words to fully express our inner experience.