Actor Nakamura Nakazō I 

Curator: Katsukawa Shunko gives us the "Actor Nakamura Nakazo I," and right away, I'm struck by the dramatic tension in his face. He looks like he's about to deliver some earth-shattering news. Editor: Indeed. What fascinates me is how the entire image hinges on the process of woodblock printing, a true testament to the labor involved. The flat planes, the registration of colors... Curator: You're so right! The lines define him, but also free him. It’s like the artist is saying, "Here is a mask, here is a man, now tell me which is the truth?" Editor: Perhaps the artist is commenting on the commodification of celebrity, reducing a person to a reproducible image. It's not just art; it's also industry. Curator: Absolutely! I'm left pondering the transient nature of performance versus the permanence of the print, the ghost of the actor preserved. Editor: Yes, that tension between performance and preservation. And the tension inherent in the material itself.