Artwork
Kyoto
Kyoto is a print by Naren Barfield. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This is a print called *Kyoto* made in 2002 by artist Naren Barfield.
It mixes old Japanese woodblock printing with new digital tech.
The print comes from a workshop where artists tried this mix.
The Victoria and Albert Museum shows this print.
It’s part of a set that re-thinks Japanese art in fresh ways.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
*Kyoto* is a 2002 print by Naren Barfield, held in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It belongs to a limited edition produced by a collective of nineteen contemporary artists from Japan and the United Kingdom. The work forms part of a series that deliberately revisits traditional Japanese visual culture through a modern lens.
Subject & Meaning
The image references the historic city of Kyoto, invoking its well‑known architectural and natural motifs. By juxtaposing these recognisable elements with contemporary visual strategies, the print invites viewers to consider how cultural heritage can be re‑examined and re‑contextualised in the present.
Technique & Style
Barfield combines classic woodblock carving—a hallmark of Japanese printmaking—with digitally generated imagery. The process emerged from a workshop at Wimbledon School of Art where participants experimented with overlaying hand‑cut blocks onto digitally printed layers, creating a hybrid surface that retains the tactile quality of wood while embracing the precision of digital output.
History & Provenance
The edition was produced under the auspices of Eyecon, a digital‑print research and publishing collective founded in 1999. Eyecon’s mission to foster innovative collaborations between print and digital media guided the project’s development, and the resulting works were subsequently acquired by the V&A as representative examples of early‑2000s cross‑cultural experimentation.
Context
The early 2000s saw a surge of interest in merging analogue and digital practices within contemporary art. This series, involving both Japanese and UK‑based creators, reflects broader dialogues about globalization, technology’s impact on tradition, and the evolving identity of print media at the turn of the century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Naren Barfield made a single print called *Kyoto* in 2002, a quiet cityscape in ink on paper.
