Dwight Hwang

Gyotaku is a folk art started in the latter end of the samurai era, when fishermen and naturalists would document fish and other fauna by brushing sumi ink onto the surface and rubbing the image onto paper to create a fossil-like record.

Over the years, nature print artists such as Dwight Hwang, modified and fine tuned their skill to produce increasingly realistic gyotaku records.

Now, Hwang takes this traditional skillset and makes it uniquely his own by taking gyotaku and pushing into the world of 'Wa-Modan', or Modern Japanese aesthetics for art collectors, interior designers, and hospitality.

A perfect fusion of old world Japanese techniques, utilized and composed to fit contemporary homes and discerning high-end businesses such as the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and an ever growing following of Michelin Star Chefs.

Each Wa-Modan Gyotaku art piece conveys a story via motion & emotion. Hwang, an award winning storyteller by film trade, prioritizes this aspect above all else. Combine his respect for Japanese ideals and aesthetics, Hwang introduces a gyotaku style that elevates not only the art form, but the space that it resides in.