Gazes and Voices 2

NOREN is an old style screen in Japan, made out of fabric, to be set outside of shops and businesses. It is a sign of 'we are open'. Elizabeth, when she was visiting Tokyo, found many of them in the neighborhood. a few She noticed a kind of gaze which this screen creates with its slit between sections and its height.

The entrance of youkobo is glass door, however, the surface reflects daylight so it makes it difficult to see inside from outside. Noren is a good tool as it allows the door to be kept open but still keep the inside separate from outside. Welcoming yet differentiating areas simultaneously. Elizabeth print her text piece on Linen at Silk screen workshop and stitched them to be used as Noren.

I had a hesitation to hang Elizabeth artwork outside for several reasons but, Tatsuhiko, co-director of youkobo, taught me the fact that it has to be hang outside, people might think that we are closed! This advice I felt very typical of Tatsuhiko. He always think not from his side but from the other party side. You clarify first what you want to achieve, then consider best way to do so in relation to the other parties who would receive it.

An old couple (my parent) visited and advised on the distance between each section in relation to its length and the nature of gallery. Their suggestion was to open the gab between sections wider so people can or become wanting to see inside to find out what it is. They don't have art background so they speak on behalf of those who are not used to come to gallery. As I was interested in the idea of experience of art is offered as a part of people's everyday life, their advices become precious.

Drawing as a primary media

On Friday, a student from painting department at GEIDAI dropped by. We chat about drawing and installation. There are impression of drawing being a secondary media. But is it really? As Thea and I went drawing department in art college, it felt important to put thoughts together again, the role of drawing, both concept and method, playing in our making installational work. (to be continued...)

Gazes and Voices 1

The wall dedicated to participations (left) and record of references &correspondences (right). Reading session on the 22nd and 23rd are introduced with pictures and poetry which participants read according to Seishonagon's sub-theme in her pillow book.  

The dialogue with artists started at the end of last Deccember. The idea of Transnation, transculture and translation was strong, then. (the reference magazine HYOUSHOU vol. 05 Art as Negotiation' and projects note etc are on display.

Exhibition: Week 1

First night of the show, people at youkobo gathered in the gallery for a while before the dinner.
Youkobo directors, current residency artists at Youkobo, Catalina from Chile, Almut&Christof from Austria, and visiting artists Ross&Meredith from Melbourne.

Almost

 

Top: whole view

Middle: Elizabeth, Thea

Bottom: Gaku, Utako

Kind support, family and mentor

Before the idea for the project was shaped, I had shared a dialogue with Elizabeth. I was very much struggling, how to balance my life, job and making of art. She wrote, me how she tries to connect those, to reflect them onto each other.

I was very grateful to have my family and the mentor into the space for the work-in-progress. They kindly supported the last stage of building up the projects. It was literally the moment when life, job and art became one, procssed into living everyday.

Work in Progress: Week 5

Sunday, while the set up was happening right there, drilling, cutting, nailing, a visitor with a nice summer hat walked into. During the work in progress period, It was surprising for me to find how natural for most people to see a work-in-progress. Before I started this project, I was afraid of the project not being not enjoyed or even understood, in thinking people commonly likes the finished and finalised works. But it was likely wrong assumption. It seems that the idea of sharing process, viewing process are very much welcomed, even in a gallery context, (of course, it depends on the direction of a gallery, and the kinds of audiences they have). I just appreciated a opened minded people who live or visit the area where Youkobo is. also to youkobo which give me the apportunity to experiment. and artists who got on the board together.