February 27 – March 31, 2006
Every journey begins with a single step, or at least so the saying goes.
Well, that’s a cinch, thought I. Let’s do it.
In this case however, it involved a LOT more wrapping, packing, carpentry and heavy lifting…
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It seems this last week I’ve been up to my armpits in absolutely acres of bubble wrap and stuck in many miles of masking tape. Screwing down lids on packing crates invariably makes me think simultaneously of treasure chests and coffins, and surrendering it all to the deft competence of the shipping company, which came and whisked them away in a few minutes was disconcerting to say the least.
I’ll tell you all about it when they get back.
(Not looking forward to all that unpacking…)
The announcement is here:
http://www.canadanet.or.jp/p_c/howe.shtml
(For those who, like me, don’t read Japanese, there are .pdf files in English and French.)
Exhibition Announcement February 1, 2006
John Howe: Lord of the Brush
February 27 – March 31, 2006
Embassy of Canada Prince Takamado Gallery
The Canadian Embassy presents John Howe: Lord of the Brush which features original full
colour illustrations selected to provide a glimpse into Howe’s imaginative process of embodying Tolkien’s heroes and fabled settings and sites.
John Howe, a Canadian artist now living in Switzerland, became inspired decades ago by Tolkien’s towering work Lord of the Rings. His illustrations led to the design of the detail, character, atmosphere, and overall image, from sets to characters, costumes, backgrounds, and computer animations of the feature film trilogy Lord of the Rings. The world now sees Tolkien’s Middle-Earth largely through John Howe’s abundant imagination. Howe also worked on the initial conceptual images for Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
This will be the artist’s first exhibition in Japan. John Howe: Lord of the Brush, with over 50 original works, will take the viewer into Howe’s epic world of fantasy. These images are accompanied by examples of illustrations for numerous publications around the Lord of the Rings and other fantasy themes.
John Howe was born in Vancouver in 1957 and raised in a wide variety of panoramic landscapes of British Columbia while gaining a visual art education. He then studied in France and in the intervening years has become the renowned visual source for all things Tolkien. “Fantasy worlds are so European-based,” declares Howe. In 1997, he was called by the New Zealand producerdirector Peter Jackson to work on visual concepts for the gigantic film project. In Alan Lee’s able company on location in New Zealand, he created the settings, costume fundamentals, arms, armour, and architecture which gave visual birth to three astonishing films. Jackson continues to credit Howe with the inspiration for the films and vital to the success of these motion pictures is the integral role played by this world-renowned Canadian illustrator.
This exhibition is curated by Tom Graff.
DETAILS
TITLE: “John Howe: Lord of the Brush”
DATE: February 27– March 31, 2006
Weekdays 9:00 to 17:30, Wednesdays 9:00 to 20:00
Special weekend opening: March 4 and 5
*closed March 21
PLACE: Embassy of Canada Prince Takamado Gallery
(7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
ADMISSION: Free
CONTACT: Embassy of Canada, Public Affairs Section tel: 03-5412-6305
MEDIA CONTACT: Ryuko Iikubo (tel: 03-5412-6347)
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Above: Invitations
