HASSAK: Magnificent Rubber Stamps

21 Jun 2007 Category: Arts & Crafts, Features, Japan, Products

Beautifully delicate lines are carved into the rubber generating expressive designs with ink - what unique quality of handiworks! Try producing such a rubber stamp with a machine… For today, PingMag is visiting the special exhibition of Tokyo-based artist Tomoko Kataoka who was pleased to tell us all about her refined art business called HASSAK Rubber Stamp.

Written by Ryoko
Translated by Rie Ishimi

How did you get into rubber stamps?

Originally, I majored in sculpture at art university. After graduating, I had various part-time jobs until, one day, a friend spotted a small stamp I had made for one of my design jobs. That was my start with rubber stamps! Afterwards, I had the opportunity to exhibit my works at events thanks to a couple of people I had met. Gradually, I started having my own workshops and exhibitions.

“HASSAK Rubber Stamp” is your art business and also the title of your exhibition. That makes me curious: What does HASSAK mean?

When I started my rubber stamp business, I thought that I might need some kind of trade name. That was just during the fruit season and ‘Hassaku’ means ‘fruits’ in Japanese. But also, I thought it would be nice to pick a name that would remind me of the season or atmosphere in which I met certain people for the first time. That is the story of the “HASSAK Rubber Stamp” name.

Do you make all the designs by yourself or do also customers come up with their own ideas?

Well, some are my own and some are custom-made. As for private clients, I often create custom-made stamps in total accordance with their original designs. However, with business orders I usually bring in my own creativity regarding the logo of a shop, for example.

For example, these are custom-made stamps ordered by the ‘Ogawa’ bookstore that has also some books on war on its shelves. The shop wanted a something with an airplane as design. So, I ended up making the stamps from templates I found in this bookstore’s magazines and books. I also found a lot of other interesting graphics there which I later used for my own designs. I noticed that graphics in old books work extremely well as templates for my rubber stamps.

My works include both idea and concept for the shops that order the stamps. However, I respect their ideas and they are usually happy to share the final design with me.

For these stamps I was inspired by the designs I’ve seen in an old book about mathematics. The stamps with the small circles in the corners are named “After Rain Arithmetic” (left image) and the one without the circles go as “Arithmetic” (right).

Now we would like to know the details of these wonderfully handcrafted works: How do you make the rubber plates?

First, I make a rough sketch on paper. Then, I print the image of the drawing on a rubber plate and start carving it out slowly, leaving the lines which will be inked-up later. I use a design knife for that. Also I give workshops where I introduce to people the ‘how-to carve.’

Do you make any other works with rubber plates, too?

For example, I made a rubber stamp design for this fabric I dyed with plant dye. Once a month, I participate in a plant dyeing workshop and usually dye a fabric cloth with seasonal plants, such as Akane apple, gardenia or chestnut. Sometimes I dye with grass that simply grows around here. I just started it from this spring and I am really looking forward to collect more colours throughout this year.

Do you have a final message for aspiring rubber stamp artists?

I am most delighted of the thought of ‘what I can make,’ rather than finishing a piece of work. And I’d be more than glad if people feel the potential that lies in these rubber stamp works - and try out what they can do with their own abilities…

Thank you Tomoko Kataoka!

Now, hurry up! The “HASSAK Rubber Stamp” exhibition runs only through this Sunday, June 24th, at Misuzudo’s Ochanomizu Tokyo gallery. Also, friendly persons with a love for rubber stamps are even welcomed to get in touch with Tomoko personally. Her e-mail address: hassak at mbn.nifty.com.

81 Comments

1. nice 1
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   :)

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2. Brilliant idea. It’s almost like using Photoshop brushes and patterns to create a new design composite.

   Posted by: Wee Keat on June 21st, 2007 at 11:18 pm

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   Posted by: Rubber Stamps « Gabriel In Taipei on June 21st, 2007 at 11:48 pm

4. so cute~~~

   Posted by: tunokuda on June 22nd, 2007 at 1:03 am

5. Brilliant. These lights may be the right background fpr further art works. do see http://www.lunolight.de. Thanx and keep on illustrating. Dougi

   Posted by: douglas b on June 22nd, 2007 at 5:48 am

6. .
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   Posted by: HDR Photography on June 22nd, 2007 at 6:15 am

7. [...] Chances are you’ve never seen rubber stamps like these. [Pingmag] [...]

   Posted by: Complex » Blog Archive » Winding Down: Names Aren’t Important on June 22nd, 2007 at 7:57 am

8. Wow! Amazing! Jeez! Why does everyfreakinbody have to be so damn pretentiously amazed? Every, I mean EVERY goddamn article on pingmag (don`t misunderstand me, i like the site (though i don’t LOOVE it, like WOW! That’s amazing!)) is commented in an overdramatic way. I say, remove the comments. They are annoying, spacedemanding crap. Oh, are we allowed to write “crap”? Obviously.

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9. Distinguish different types of stamping!

   Posted by: Paavani on June 23rd, 2007 at 11:43 pm

10. Ahhhh kool… I want to make some!!

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    Posted by: Lu! on July 4th, 2007 at 2:46 am

13. Your carvings are incredible, the detail, you must have great patience & a very steady hand.
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