Satoru Abe – Wood Engravings

When I was at the Honolulu International Airport, I passed by a beautiful art installation featuring Satoru Abe’s wood engravings.

The 40 wood engravings displayed were created in 2010. Images were laser engraved on birch plywood and painted over in oil.

One of Hawaiʻi’s most distinguished artists, Satoru Abe helped define the landscape of art in Hawaiʻi. Drawing his themes from nature: roots, trees, leaves, and the moon, his abstract copper, bronze, wood sculptures, and paintings enhance many public spaces across the globe and throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including: The Honolulu Museum of Art, Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, and Tokyo Central Museum. Many of his pieces are permanently displayed in dozens of schools, including his Alma Mater, President William McKinley High School, in Honolulu.

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi and internationally recognized and exhibited, Abe has won numerous awards for his accomplishments. From his studies at the California Academy of Fine Arts, he moved to New York to study painting at The Art Students League where he began a long term association with the Sculpture Center.

Abe met his future wife, Ruth Tanji of Wahiawa, while studying at the Art Students League. They married in 1950 and returned to Hawaiʻi. It was at this time that Ruth made the decision to fully support Satoru’s artistic career, which allowed him to devote his time and passion to his art. It is estimated that Abe has created over 8,000 art works in his lifetime thus far.