Greetings
From Hokuriku's castletown Kanazawa to Japan's major cities, Europe, the U.S.A., Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and to the world, wherever many Karhu fans reside.
Yanis Art Japan, Ltd. wishes that, through the exhibition-sale of Clifton Karhu's works in his last living home-cum-atelier, more and more of Karhu fans would have the chance to hold the artist's works in their hands and cherish them ever after.
And if our efforts to transmit the charms of Hokuriku's historic city Kanazawa from our gallery in Kazuemachi Tea House District will, no matter small, contribute to the region's tourism—we take that as our mission as well.
Company Overview
| Company Name: | Yanis Art Japan, Ltd. |
| President: | Toshiyuki Kagawa |
| Address: | 3-19 Kazuemachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0908 |
| TEL: | +81(0)76-255-6249(Main) |
| Email: | info@cw-karhu.jp |
Introducing the Gallery's Representative
Born in 1963.
Previously worked for a publishing company.
In the year following Karhu's death, Asano River running alongside the chaya district flooded. Having the chance to help restore and sort out pieces which were smeared with mud during the flood served as a starting point for opening our gallery.
Not to mention his woodblock prints, in which innovation and nostalgia coexist, I equally love Karhu's ink paintings that are full of his geniality and sense of humor.
Things Karhu Loved
- ・Kona coffee
- ・Cuban cigars: Davidoff Montecristo No.2
- ・Decoy fishing of ayu (sweetfish) in particular. In fact, after his return to Japan following his retirement from the military and during his residency in Gifu prefecture, he became so good at it that he even made his living by selling the ayu he caught (before he achieved his career as an outstanding printmaker)
- ・T-bone steaks
- ・Kanazawa’s Kazuemachi and its Tea House District
Through his blue, printmaker's eyes, he has long observed the views of Japan's historic cities. Having left his dear old Kyoto, he established his last residence in Kanazawa’s Asano Riverside tea house district in his later years. At that time, he felt Kazuemachi and Higashiyama area still retained authentic, uncommercialized elements that Kyoto has long lost. He also loved the clear way four seasons take turns one after another.
Ever since his first visit to Kanazawa to fulfill a request to paint Kutani porcelain, he grew attracted to the city and, over the course of his many visits, he ended up buying a house, where he spent a major part of the year. And here in Kanazawa, he performed all the printmaking processes by himself, drawing, carving, rubbing, and so on. Karhu left behind many works in this town.
However, he then succumbed to illness and passed away on March 24th, 2007. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.
While alive, he was particularly fond of the view of Asano River through his window and his love extended not only to the fruits of the sea and mountains of Ishikawa but even to the area's changeable weather. Locals, in their turns, loved the kimono-clad artist strolling down the streets and interacted cheerfully and friendly with him.
In this place, which served as his last atelier as well as last home, most of the works Karhu produced in his life were left slumbering with the memory of the artist.
I wanted to rouse them from the dusty slumber once again. For I felt irresistible emotions and sense of nostalgia in those Japanese sceneries as seen by Karhu through his blue eyes.
I sincerely hope that the works of Karhu the bue-eyed printmaker, who loved Japan deeply, and pursued a more Japanese life than the natives will be cherished in the hands of more and more Karhu fans for many years to come.
Yanis Art Japan, Ltd.
President: Toshiyuki Kagawa
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