Prints
MAM AND CHOPPI
1998-2000-
By Masaaki Sugita

I began to make a small format print from November 1998, for I had been completely exhausted by the works, Landscapes in Osaka, four copper engravings until the end of 1997, the large format prints which I needed much time to engrave and to print only for one print. The small format is quickly done to engrave and print, and needs low material costs.
The subject of this works are the daily life of my mother and her dog, Choppi by one copper engraving and ten wood engravings. Choppi died 2008 for about age 15, my mother was 2019, age 96. I was at their last moment of both.




Serial No. 1020009 (work number 1020, 9th print)
Title / Choppi itchy, Mam drinks a vitamin drink
Printed on Oct 11, 2000
Image size 100 x 108mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Sept 23 to Oct 10, 2000
Total work time 20.3 hours





Serial No. 1019008 (work number 1019, 8th print)
Title / The favorite fish eaten by Choppi, Mam is angry
Printed on Sep 20, 2000
Image size 100 x 108mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Aug 31 to Sept 19, 2000
Total work time 16.8 hours

One day, I was waked up by the talking from the lower floor, although it was as usual morning. And it seemed that Choppi jumped up on the table and had eaten her favorite, grilled salt salmon of my mother’s breakfast there, just a while she wasn’t there. She was angrily blaming Choppi, “Who said you might eat it?” “Oh! It makes me angry!” “And it is the most delicious part of the fish for me!!” She loved especially the stomach part of the sault salmon that I like too for rice, very traditional Japanese food. And she didn’t forget also to excuse for Choppi with sympathy. She was saying followingly “She usually, doesn’t eat on the table” “She must be very very hangry”
One of the conversations between my mother and Choppi.





Serial No. 1018008 (work number 1018, 8th print)
Title / Choppi on the center, Mam on the edge
Printed on Aug30, 2000
Image size 112 x 145mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Aug 31 to Sept 19, 2000
Total work time 23 hours

Choppi sleeps with my mother on her bed. Choppi sleeps at her leg, as a result Choppi has usually been on the center of the bed. And my mother was to said “Choppi, it’s heavy! Sleep on the edge side!”

Choppi was very clever dog. She understands well the situation. My mother often talked loud in her sleeping by a bad dream. When she began talking, then Choppi quickly noticed and began barking from the short and low voice, and getting higher and louder as my mother began violently shouting, finally she approached to mother’s face and let her awake by scratching her face. She protected my mother. My mother used to say to Choppi, “you can understand everything” I think so.

The mother’s house is very old Japanese house which is originally built by wood, earth and paper! like fairy tale, so it is no sound proof and privacy.
I used to spend time in midnight drinking beer and watching TV in the living room side by mother’s bed room before go to bed. She lives in the lower room instead of the upper room when I returned this home and I lived in her room in 1995. The slide glass doors between the living room and the bed room are always half open, so I know how they lived.





Serial No. 1017008 (work number 1017, 8th print)
Title / "WHY"
Printed on Jul 26, 2000
Image size 75 x 102mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Jul 3 to Jul 25, 2000
Total work time 21.5 hours





Serial No. 1016009 (work number 1016, 9th print)
Title / "Breakfast"
Printed on Jun 28, 2000
Image size 80 x 79mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Jun 12 to 27, 2000
Total work time 20.5 hours

When I waked up and had breakfast, my mother and Choppi were there in living room to walk or returned from walk. The table was small and low Japanese table.





Serial No. 1015009 (work number 1015, 9th print)
Title / Unknown man coming
Printed on Jun 14, 2000
Image size 80 x 77mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on May 29 to Jun 6, 2000
Total work time 13 hours





Serial No. 1014009 (work number 1014, 4th print)
Title / "Chooppi is waiting Mam finishs washing"
Printed on May 24, 2000
Image size 80 x 72mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on May 16 to 22, 2000
Total work time 10.8 hours





Serial No. 1013009　(work number 1013, 9th print)
Title / Hero is here
Printed on May 15, 2000
Image size 111 x 80mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Apr 24 to May, 2000
Total work time 27.8 hours

This is the parody of the very famous Japanese old tale “MOMO TARO”
That is
“Once upon a time, Grandpa and Grandma live there. One day Grandpa went to mountain side to collect twigs, and Grandma went to river side to wash the cloths.
As Grandma washing, very very big peach came wobbling, swaying down on the stream.
They cut and opened the peach at home, a baby came out from the peach. They named him “MOMO TARO / PEACH TARO”. As he grew up quickly to a sound and stout man, he decide to go to the demon’s island cooperating with his followers, dog, monkey, and pheasant to punish them that sometime came to village and bedeviled the people, he won the fight and returned in triumph with many treasure.”

It is seen through the opening that that grandma is washing at the river carrying the very big peach. I depicted there the bicycle which my mother rides until her age 80.
Of course I engraved the three followers of MOMO TARO, the important characters of the tale. The monkey doll is hung on the brick wall, the pheasant is in front of the grandma. And I added myself sketching Choppi too in the mirror hung on the wall, following the great model of Jan Van Eyck, the Arnolfini Portrait.





Serial No. 1012009　(work number 1012, 9th print)
Title / Choppi can't sleep without the doll
Printed on Apr 26, 2000
Image size 85 x 108mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Apr 8 to 26, 2000
Total work time 24 hours

It was a routine. When my mother goes to bed, Choppi does too, bringing with her favorite doll found from somewhere. My mother says to her “You can’t sleep without it?” or “Choppi, I’ll sleep! Come on! Bringing with your doll!”





Serial No. 1011123　(work number 1011, 123rd print)
Title / Mam preaching to a dog, Choppi sleeping like
Printed on Oct 27, 1999
Image size 105 x 93mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Hahnemule 5760 230ｇ/�u natural white
Techinque / wood engraving(X2)
Engraved on Jan 28 to Feb 7, 1999
Revised on Jun 29, 1999 Total work time 30 hours

My mother usually praised the other person when she wanted to preach someone. She said “The other person is clever!” She didn’t say it, but there would be the following words that but…which she really wanted to say. Choppi also had such word by my mother. “Look! The other dog is clever!” Choppi was no reaction with pretending slept.
How many times I had such word!





Serial No. 1008097A　(work number 1008, 97th print)
Title / "V-wan-k V-wan-k"
Edition 97
Printed on Aug 4, 1999
Image size 105 x 74mm
copper plate size 158 x 104mm
sheet size 340 x 240mm
Paper / Gampi on Velin Arches 250ｇ/�u
Techinque / copper engraving (C2) Chine colle
Engraved on Nov 4 to Dec 4, 1998
Total work time 70 hours

Choppi was waiting for the morning walk. She jumped up on the table, if my mother looked not to get action, and asked it in front of her face. My mother gave the big smoke blowing from the nostrils. I don’t smoke. I had really been annoyed by her smoking.