Andrew Bae Gallery is pleased to present for its inaugural show, a retrospective of the work of Katsunori Hamanishi. This Japanese artist is recognized as a master of the demanding mezzotint printmaking method. Invented in 17th-century Europe, the technique involves direct and precise work on metal plates. The result is monochrome images of dramatic tonal range and softly delicate textures. Over the years, Hamanishi has taken the process further through additions of bold color fields, metal leaf appliqué, and embossing of the paper itself. His early mezzotints are the first confirmation of technical achievement, depicting branches, ropes and wooden objects three-dimensionally. His recent work separates and simultaneously harmonizes seemingly unlike elements, often juxtaposing representational forms such as rice stalks with fields of color. Critic Margaret Kennard Johnson writes that Hamanishi’s work is characterized by “elemental concepts where simplified imagery has defined deep, energized spaces inviting a meditative experience for the viewer.”