Printing in Open Studio, Toronto

Printing in Open Studio, Toronto

 

Amy Suzuki

    Amy Suzuki is a Toronto-based printmaker who works primarily with colour lithography. Amy holds a BFA from Queen’s University and has printed at Gravity Press in North Adams, Massachusetts, The Glasgow School of Art, and St. Michael's Printshop in St. John's, Newfoundland. A dedication to mastering the art of lithography is what drives her work. 

    My lithographic practice is inspired by the architectural and natural landscape of places I have travelled. My most recent prints reflect the experiences I gained from living in Shikoku, Japan and its unique landscape. Shikoku is famous for The Pilgrimage of 88 Temples, making it a site of spiritual importance. This centuries-old pilgrimage is traditionally walked on foot; there is an ever-present awareness of the topography of the land for those walking the trail and observers alike. I am interested in further exploring ideas about how people interact with their natural environments.

   Living among the mountains in Shikoku allowed me to understand the land in different visual planes, which has influenced the composition of my prints. I use imagery that typifies Shikoku such as wooden structures, flora and mikan oranges as inspiration for new ways of exploring texture and colour through lithography. This series makes use of Japanese papers and tissues, some of which were made in Shikoku, allowing the materials to inform the work as well.