Yokai

YOKAI

By Gonzalo Adrian Battaglia

Ink wash on paper print on hand-torn Moab Somerset Museum Rag paper, 2005. 

"This ink wash drawing was inspired by Japanese ink drawings, and is a simple exercise in using empty space as an important part of the drawing: another technique inspired by Japanese art. The subject is inspired by the Japanese tradition of yokai, a mainstay of the Shinto religion. Yokai are spirits of nature or the deceased and can appear either to plague people or to help them, though they are often just mischievous and out to cause a scare. Although they are a very traditional belief in Japan, they continue to matter today and even live on as “urban legends.” — Gonzalo Adrian Battaglia

We only print on archival papers and surfaces, including silver halide photographic papers, museum-quality heavyweight rag papers, metal, acrylic, and wood.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS

Fuji Deep Matte Velvet is a luxurious, velvety smooth, acid-free, archival silver halide photographic paper with a non-reflective surface that creates gorgeous, detailed fine art images with rich, vivid colors that feel both muted and saturated at the same time.

RAG PRINTS

Moab Somerset Museum Rag is an archival 100% cotton heavyweight 300gsm acid-free paper with an ultra-smooth surface and matte finish that produces deep, rich blacks and unparalleled color.

METAL PRINTS

Our metal prints are made by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets, resulting in uniquely durable prints with vibrant colors, brilliant luminescence, and exceptional detail. The ultra-hard scratch-resistant surface is waterproof/weatherproof and can be cleaned easily — just avoid direct sunlight.

FRAMES

Handcrafted in California, our solid wood box frames are made of natural wood with a rich finish and grain that can vary slightly from frame to frame. They are available in black, white and natural basswood.

Gonzalo Adrian Battaglia is a comic book author and illustrator, painter and performance artist who explores a broad array of subjects through his mastery of multiple media. Classically trained, Battaglia harnesses his deep knowledge of art history to inform his methods, such as carving linoleum blocks to create prints portraying whimsical, wry and often bold themes. He often draws inspiration from the cartoons, movies, video games, and comics that permeate popular culture in both Latin America and the U.S.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Battaglia immigrated to Miami with his family in the 1980s, where he later established himself among South Florida’s tight-knit and innovative community of artists. He earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts and a Master’s in Education from Florida International University. He teaches art in Miami, Florida, where he lives with his wife and two children.