Death And Eroticism In the Ex Libris Of Seiji Kamachi

Ex Libris

Seiji Kamachi (蒲池清爾, 1948) became renowned for his copperplate engravings dedicated to the art of ex libris. He participated in international ex libris exhibitions in countries such as Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Slovenia, and Japan, and held 11 curated solo exhibitions. For over 17 years, he served as an engraving instructor in art museums and community centers. He also taught practical engraving techniques on television programs like Passionate About Art and Giants of Beauty, among others. His works are characterized by a fusion of eroticism and Japanese aesthetic tradition, and stand out not only for his technical skill but also for the way he manages to create images in which the female figure is almost always threatened by death, represented by a skeleton or some monstrous creature.

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Graphic Tradition

The copperplate engraving technique, widely used by Seiji Kamachi, captures attention due to its precision and ability to render intricate details through complex compositions, where fine lines and detailed shading construct images that are simultaneously dramatic and highly erotic. In Kamachi’s case, his choice of copperplate engraving is not merely a technical preference but also reflects a commitment to the graphic art tradition in Japan, which has historically integrated erotic themes into its productions, as seen in Edo-period ukiyo-e. Kamachi’s ex libris reinterpret these aspects of Japanese erotic art history through a contemporary lens. 

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The artist's fascination with ex libris is not limited to his production, as in 1997 he created the Doumu Print Art Studio at Ichigaya, aimed at teaching and practicing this artistic activity. According to him:

"When I decided to open the studio, I consulted some people. The predominant opinion was: 'In this computer age, a copperplate engraving studio makes no sense….' More than ten years have passed since the studio’s foundation, and we currently have about 60 members. To the general public, this may seem like a peculiar and curious phenomenon. People of different generations dedicate themselves diligently to this challenging art of copperplate engraving. There are young individuals silently working on the detailed process of pointillism. After all, what is the 'purpose of life'? It is certainly not just convenience or material wealth, something Japan, as a major economic power, seems to demonstrate. For humans, that which we invest with a certain passion becomes valuable and can transform into a life purpose. This studio was created to be a pleasant creative space open to people of all ages and professions, from beginners to professional artists. If more people can discover the fascination of copperplate engraving and this contributes to a richer and fuller life, there would be no greater happiness for us." (https://doumuhanga.jp/)

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In the extended Premium edition more on how Kamachi depicts the body in his eroticism, the inclusion of the skeleton, the dialogue of his work with the legacy of erotographic traditions in Japan (like shunga art), his reinterpretation of Hokusai's The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife, the aesthetics of beauty and horror, and 44 additional ex libris pics.

Click HERE for the Western decadence and the art of Ex-libris of Alphonse Inoue