Become an Moku-Hanga artist!

In this edition of SWAB, the Swab Kids space, curated by Petit Japó, invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of Moku-Hanga, the traditional Japanese woodblock printing technique that has been used for centuries to create both artworks and book illustrations. This artisanal method consists of carving an image onto wooden blocks, inking the raised areas, and transferring the design onto paper using hand pressure with the baren, a traditional Japanese tool.

The program invites children and adults alike to explore this centuries-old practice through a hands-on participatory activity: visitors will be able to ink pre-carved wooden blocks, place paper on top, and rub it with the baren to transfer the image. The experience also includes working with multiple blocks and colors, discovering the expressive potential of layering and the chromatic richness that characterizes this technique. Through the repetition of the same motif in different colors, participants will see how unique and nuanced compositions can emerge.

In addition to the workshop space, the proposal is complemented by a didactic display illustrating the different stages of creating a traditional ukiyo-e print, as well as the original tools used in the Moku-Hanga process. This exhibition context offers insight into both the technical complexity and the artistic sensitivity of this discipline, highlighting the dialogue between tradition and contemporary creativity.

The prints created by participants can be displayed on the walls of the space or taken home, celebrating printmaking as a collective, playful, and accessible form of creative expression for all ages.