This August, Bergen will host a rare opportunity to learn the traditional Japanese art of Mokuhanga in an intensive five-day course running from 10–14 August.
Led by master carver Shoichi Kitamura and artist Miyuki Ninomiya, the course offers a hands-on introduction to centuries-old Japanese woodblock printing techniques. Open to all skill levels, it invites participants to engage deeply with both the craft and creative potential of Mokuhanga.
Unlike Western oil-based woodcut, Mokuhanga uses water-based pigments, brushes for inking, and hand pressure rather than a printing press. Images are printed using a barren, allowing subtle shifts in pressure and tone. The result is a softness and depth that feels distinct from Western relief traditions.
“The transparency and gradation possible in Mokuhanga open up a completely different visual language from Western woodcut. It’s softer, deeper and incredibly expressive.”
Over five focused days, participants will move through the full process. From transferring an image to the block, carving and registration, through to inking and hand-printing. The course provides structured guidance while leaving space for experimentation and personal exploration.
Water-based pigments create luminous colour and natural gradation, allowing prints to hold a sense of light from within. Because the process requires no press, only simple tools and a table, it offers an intimate and accessible way of working. The physical act of printing by hand fosters a sensitivity to material and rhythm that is central to the Mokuhanga tradition.
Shoichi Kitamura is internationally respected for his precision, technical mastery and dedication to preserving traditional Japanese woodblock techniques.
Miyuki Ninomiya brings a contemporary sensibility to the medium, combining deep technical knowledge with an expressive, exploratory approach to colour and surface. Together, they offer students rare insight into both the historical foundations and evolving possibilities of this practice.
For those interested in expanding their print vocabulary, the course provides not only technical skill-building but also an immersion into a rich cultural lineage.
The workshop takes place in Bergen from 10–14 August.
More information:
https://trykkerietbergen.no
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/trykkeriet
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/trykkerietbergen
Want to know more about our membership? Give us an email at members@peopleofprint.com.
- Archive of Rot: Time and Memory Through a Neurodivergent Lens — Paige Lee Miller - February 26, 2026
- Japanese Woodcut Course in Bergen with Shoichi Kitamura and Miyuki Ninomiya - February 26, 2026
- A Dose of Colour: Hannah Carvell’s New CMYK Screen Prints - February 26, 2026
Discover more from People of Print
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
