Huhtamaki Wab
For Buy Art South West Huhtamaki will be selling affordable pet portrait commissions.
Taking the Pet Portrait format and encompassing it into his own practice, Wab is offering 4 affordable commissions where you're Pet is taken into the world of Waba amongst the different spirits and landscapes that inhabit his depictions. Complicating perceptions of hi and lo art and his own position as an artist within these boundaries. Wab's pet portraits offer a playful and joyous way of owning contemporary art.
Pet portraits are £250 each, painted with acrylic and oil on canvas, and are 30inch x 26 inch.
After agreeing purchase directly with Huhtamaki, you will need to provide photos of your pet (5 different images). The paintings will take one month max to produce.
Interested in Buying a pet portrait?
How Does it Work?
- We will feature Huhtamaki on the 'Buy Art South West' project page & through our Instagram feed
- When we feature Huhtakami and the pet portraits go directly to the artists website or Instagram account which we will tag in our posts and on their featured artist page
- Message/email the artist directly and let them know you would like to purchase a commission
- MIRROR takes no cut or admin fee, all transactions are arranged directly with the artist
Huhtamaki Wab works between painting, performance and video, installation and sculpture alongside his role as director of the Genius Treasure Collection.
Wab’s practice exists within an animistic and non-anthropocentric world. Interconnected spirits and humans populate landscapes that create ecstatic realities. Complex entanglements between both persons and landscapes create a rich ecology of non-hierarchical relations. Heavily informed by the animistic culture from his birthplace of Japan, depictions of yokai in ukiyo-e prints as well as contemporary representations of this heritage, for example, in cultures such as manga, can be seen in his work.
A move to rural Devon has revitalised his acute connection to the landscape. Engaging physically through walking the moors, swimming in rivers as well as making rituals and offerings within these spaces both entangle and inform Wab's life, well-being and art making. Hearing voices and living with delusion as a teenager, later experiencing periods of addiction, the worlds he creates are integral to his on-going recovery, providing a space for being with and solace.
Wab has a keen interest in art made outside of the institution, collecting artworks from markets and car boots mostly by unknown makers. Known as the Genius Treasure Collection, it was displayed in London as a public museum in his bedroom between 2018 and 2019. Wab’s humorous navigation in how he situates himself and his practice in relation to the institutional art world is exemplified through his choice of name, Huhtamaki, an alias taken from a disposable cup from the Tate.
Born in Tokyo, 1984, Graduated Chelsea College of Arts, 2008. Lives and works in Devon, UK.