By Jenna Downey – Contributor

The Foreman Art Gallery of Bishop’s University presents its newest exhibition, Shake the Ground: Au creux des sillons. The exhibition opened on Jan. 17, and will be showcased until Mar. 15, 2025. The opening reception offered refreshments and conversation while presenting the work of Japanese-Canadian Toronto-based artist Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka. 
            The enlightening opening of the exhibition was accompanied by the curator, Gentiane Bélanger, who described Hatanaka’s most abstract pieces that are evocative of geographies and territories, while also surmising more interpretive emotional meanings. Hatanaka’s work depicts both the physical aspects of her detached, transnational identity while also engaging with her internal battles with bipolar disorder. The artist’s profession creates a metaphorical anchor, providing her with a sense of solace and stability with her mental health issues. Bélanger hand-selected the pieces in the collection, expressing that they “had more of an open meaning, and that’s what [she] was interested in… all the works are kind of like echoing one another. I feel that they’re part of the same family, in a way.”

Hatanaka’s creative process is incredibly meticulous and labor-intensive as she follows delicate steps to bring her vision to life, commencing with the fabrication of her paper by hand. Hand-making paper is a culturally significant practice in Asia and allows her to unambiguously transcend geographical boundaries. The paper’s transparency displays a more luminous and delicate display of her artistry. Hatanaka uses a Linoleum Printing Technique, which involves carving intricate patterns and grooves into linoleum blocks. This method allows a natural illustration of snow, wrinkles of wind on sand or the cracks in frozen ground, providing the foundation of her prints. The carved blocks are an abstract representation of territories, in internal and external aspects of her life. Hatanaka prints her works by manually rubbing the paper onto the inked linoleum blocks. She utilizes materials such as the exterior of a spoon to press the paper onto the block emphasizing her meditative engagement with the time-consuming work. 

Hatanaka’s conscientious work reflects how both the labor and creative processes provide her with an outlet to express her emotions granting her stability and comfort. The abstract art that Bélanger chose to be displayed at the Forman Art Gallery allows each visitor to connect with the pieces on a personal level through each individual’s interpretation. The collection is open to the public and free of charge.