Hiroyuki Tajima (Japanese, 1911-1984) is best known for his luminous abstract woodblock prints with broad areas of rich, dense color.  He was born in Tokyo and graduated from Nihon University in 1932.  In 1943, he graduated from the Western-style painting division of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.  

Greatly influenced by the methods and aesthetics of mid-century modernism, Tajima was active in several groups in Japan including the Bijutsu Bunka Kyokai (a group of abstract and surrealist artists), the sosaku hanga school and the Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japanese Print Association).  While his execution was certainly inspired by western art movements, the spirit of his work is nonetheless based on the ideals of East Asian calligraphy, traditional Japanese painting structure, and a sense of space derived partly from his Zen Buddhist beliefs.

In order to create his unique woodblocks Tajima developed his own ink using powdered color mixed with the plastic medium phenol formaldehyde resin (Bakelite).  This process created an ink that was extremely water-repellent with which Tajima created a primary pattern.  He would then print again with a water-based ink or dye to color the areas not printed by the special resin infused ink.  This layering of the water-based and water resistant inks is what allows for Tajima’s unique, signature style.

Tajima’s dynamic colors and bold compositions tempered with the solemnity of balance and distillation of form results in works imbued with a sublime presence and meditative spirit.