Woodblock Printing as an occupation

2024/07/25

Previously, I wrote about my friend Taichi’s experience of woodblock printing.

It was about how Taichi transitioned from a work centered life to a retired

activity centered life.

Taichi sends his retiree friends postcards which he created using a woodblock

printing technique.

He looks forward to receiving their responses with updates about their recent happenings.

Taichi is satisfied with his stable connections with his retiree friends and he is continuously inspired to make his next woodblock print work.

Today I will share with you more about viewing woodblock printing as an

occupation from these angles:

              the form of woodblock printing as an occupation,

              the function of the occupation,

              and the meaning of the occupation.

To look at woodblock printing in a big occupational picture, let’s first imagine

Taichi engaging in woodblock printing.

Woodblock Printing as an occupation

Situation

Taichi is a retiree in his seventies who lives with his wife.

While he was working as an active and excellent professional, he kept on thinking

about engaging in different activities once he retired.

By trying different activities for six years in early retirement, he transitioned from

a work centered life to an activity centered life.

The activity he enjoys most nowadays is creating postcards using a woodblock

printing technique.

He also enjoys communicating with his retiree friends through the handmade

postcards he sends them.    

Form of the occupation

For many years, Taichi has sent hundreds of New Year woodblock printed postcards. After he retired, he enrolled in an art print course in a senior community college

and engaged in creating woodblock prints focusing on family centered themes.

It takes a while for Taichi to finalize each design of his print- composition, position

of the figures and so on.  

He then repeats carving, printing and editing until he completes his woodblock print

to his satisfaction.

He now creates print work twice a month, printing postcards and sending them to his friends.

He repeatedly sends his work to the people who respond to him.

His respondents generally are retirees of his generation or older.

His work was called “Humorous Woodblock Prints” by one of them.

He looks forward to receiving positive responses from recipients and he enjoys

reading their recent updates about their lives.  

Function of the occupation

Taichi lived a work centered life and retired.

He left the occupational place and major occupation in which he had been

engaged for many years.

For Taichi, it’s an environmental challenge to make a new occupational place

in which to fully participate.

He still wants to share meaningful experiences with others.

Taichi tried different activities to figure out what fits him best.

What he found to be most fulfilling is creating woodblock prints and

communicating with others through his print postcards.

Taichi’s humorous woodblock printing supports Taichi's wish to connect with his

friends and provides him a place in which to participate and communicate fully

with others.

Woodblock prints supported Taichi's efforts to create a community of retiree

riends for him to participate in.

He looks forward to updating recent happenings with them.

That also supports Taichi's desire to share the joy and sufferings of retired life

with those who belong to his current life stage.

Woodblock printing supports Taichi's creation of this occupational place to

participate in.

Woodblock printing and his community supports his sharing this meaningful

experience with his retiree friends fully.

It aids his transit from a work centered life to a retired activity centered life.

That is making a new occupational place and a new lifestyle which promotes

his health and wellbeing.

His printed postcards communicate with his retiree friends in a different

timing from that of young people communicating urgently using smartphone

text and social media. 

That supports their retirement communication in an appropriate unhurried

timing and encourages them to share in a more meaningful sense.

Meaning of the occupation

Through communication using printed postcards, Taichi connects with his friends,

and maintains a community with them.

It’s a stable, comfortable community for him to participate in.

He is calmed and satisfied through participating in the community.

Sharing joy and sufferings, Taichi is happy to live with his retiree friends.

Updating recent happenings in a slower pace is an appropriate way for Taichi

and his friends to communicate.

His community is a stable and comfortable place for him to share meaningful

experiences with his retiree friends.

Through woodblock printing, Taichi has created a stable and comfortable

community in which to participate and to maintain sharing experiences

with his retiree friends.

It supports his transition to a well elderly life and promotes his wellbeing.