20 YEARS IN PARIS AND 100 MEZZOTINTS

By Toru Iwaya

Twenty years have elapsed since I first settled in Paris. My initial purpose for coming to France was study the new print technique at the atelier "17". Mr. William S. Heyter, and to paint the city of Paris. I did neither of those two I had originally intended to, and looking back, I am all the more impressed with the unpredictability of life. Instead, I became absorbed in the art of mezzotint and have remained absorbed for over 19 years.

After my arrival in France, the idea of studying under Mr. Heyter and painting Paris quickly faded away, leaving me with definitive reason for prolonging my sojourn in Paris. I was at the time hanging in midair in a state of depression. It was just during this phase of uncertanty that I happen to get acquainted with someone who asked me to arrange the frames for the two works by Mr. Yozo Hamaguchi along with several other works. This job gave to me the opportunity to gaze at those works every single day for a period of approximately of two months.

In those days, I lived in a one-room apartment. Because of this living condition, these works invitably caught my attention countless times a day. When the owner finally took them back, I found myself determined to put everything I have into mezzotints. My mind set, the depression I had suffered left me, and I came to life again with a whole new purpose. All this occurred in the tenth month following my arrival in Paris.

Ever since, I have devoted myself entirely to this technique with no doubt whatsoever as to the course I was taking. These twenty years of introspection in a tranquil surrounding were invaluable to me. Perhaps from the outside, I may hape appeared to to be leading the life of an ant. The latter part of these twenty years has been marked by health problems. The gradual aggravation of kidney malfunction forced me to go thru artificial dialyses and a kidney transplant. Presently, I have at least regained my strength and happy to be able to start anew.

My joy is further argumented to see the publication of Catalogue Raisonne as well of the exibition of my complete works relized. I extend my warmest and heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Ono of an Oscar Art, without whom none of these whould have been possible

May 4, 1991