Japan Blog 7.0. Finished For Now.

Goodbye for now too my friends in Japan. Look to Hope

I will really miss the great birds of Japan...and many, many other things. So thankful for the time I got to spend there. 

The variety of rocks and their irregular yet necessary connection with each other. [Wabi-Sabi]  - worth looking into! 

the JAPS. 

Rice Paddies I'm not finished with you yet. Environmental Art. I need land! 

So much happening in nature. 

The sun rising in Japan. 

I've been so blessed to know some incredible people at Seian University . 

 Junya Kajiura a master in the making and great guy. 

 Junya Kajiura a master in the making and great guy. 

Rie Okamoto has been like a guardian angel. I can't thankyou enough for her friendship during my time at Seian. 

Rie Okamoto has been like a guardian angel. I can't thankyou enough for her friendship during my time at Seian. 

The University offered me my first solo exhibition!!

Element. 

Tala San the rock technician (yes there was a rock technician!!) very cool, very passionate about his craft. And Oca Sensei on the right; who thought so alike...I couldn't of asked for a better mentor. (Here suggesting the process to me of creating my own charcoal. Daymn  

Close up on the texture. Created over about 5 months, it's got more layers than an onion. Yeah. 

Close up on the texture. Created over about 5 months, it's got more layers than an onion. Yeah. 

The work takes on a whole new light in the gallery space. 

The work takes on a whole new light in the gallery space. 

FIN 

I'll be uploading the 'Element.' series very soon.

Hope. 

Hope. 

Shipping yards you intrique me. 

This photo fittingly represents my relationship with Japan. A mysterious place of so much beauty yet very much veiled in allot of darkness...but the light shines brighter when placed in a dark room. Let's pray for Japan, HOPE IS ALIVE, Japan is shining

Himeji Castle. I was amazed just how empty the historical building was; these light sculptures were poetically seated in the absence, reflecting on a faint memory of what was and what is. 

Japan Blog 6.0. Exhibition, Photography, Tokyo.

If I could borrow the tube station wall I would haha! Which is why I consider these works as much more a display of paintings, rather than a series of photographs. 

This painting was allot of fun, raw earth and allot'a'mess!   

Originally the project was going to be a series of paintings, but realising that the subject was essentially a painting already. It was simply a case of displaying what was already there. 

Loved having my brother come and visit me in Japan, all the way from England!  

Tokyo Skyline. Sunset/light revealing a hovering presence. 

'Shibuya Crossing', masses of people. 

Everything I've created since being here wouldn't of been possible without the help of Rie Okamoto and Yousuke Myoukai, who are apart of the Art Lab at my University. (it helps that they're a good laugh!) 

Setting up at Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art.  

Big thankyou to everyone that came to see the exhibition! 

Big thankyou to everyone that came to see the exhibition! 

The series of photographs documents the walls of the tozai subway line, Kyoto. Each station displays it's own traditional Japanese colour. This one being '桔梗色 Kikyō-iro (Chinese bellflower)'. 

'桔梗色, Kikyō-iro' (Chinese bellflower), Photograph. 

'牡丹色, Botan-iro' (Peony), Photograph. 

I'll be uploading the entire series soon... this is 2 of 7. 

Sneak peak at an upcoming sculpture. *waterfall 

Really encouraged to receive comments, 

Any share or like would be much appreciated! 

  

Japan Blog 5.0. Sculpture.

Boulder of Volcanic Rock. 

Having fun with some heavy power-tools! 

Kobe's Christmas illuminations. 

Kobe's Christmas illuminations. 

Making this project has given me so much respect for sculptors; the time and patience requared is physically and mentally exhusting.  

Making this project has given me so much respect for sculptors; the time and patience requared is physically and mentally exhusting.  

Arashiyama's bamboo forest. 

Arashiyama's bamboo forest. 

Dismantling the ice-cube holder...ice is difficult to work with yet very rewarding. 

Dismantling the ice-cube holder...ice is difficult to work with yet very rewarding. 

Again...photographing a sculpture which stands on ice, is ridiculously tricky (It can't melt! arrggghhhhh!!!) . 

Again...photographing a sculpture which stands on ice, is ridiculously tricky (It can't melt! arrggghhhhh!!!) . 

So thankful for my friends at the University (Yousuke Myoukai,  Rie Okamoto, Tala) and Drew and Eriko Miller for helping with some emeargency translation, without them I wouldn't have been able to submit my sculpture for the '13th Oit…

So thankful for my friends at the University (Yousuke Myoukai,  Rie Okamoto, Tala) and Drew and Eriko Miller for helping with some emeargency translation, without them I wouldn't have been able to submit my sculpture for the '13th Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition'. The timing was orchestrated... we managed to complete everything by the evening of the deadline day!

'Untitled', (volcanic rock and ice), 23cm x 30cm x 16cm. 

I'm drawn towards the brief relationship of composure the two materials hold, wilst in there very nature untrue.

Very excited...I'm preparing prints for an upcoming exhibit at Kyoto Museum!! 

Very excited...I'm preparing prints for an upcoming exhibit at Kyoto Museum!! 

Keep an eye out for more updates soon! 

Any comment, share or like would be much appreciated! 

Happy New Year! 

Japan 4.0. UPDATE.

In my Studio.... did I mention it's in Japan!! 

In my Studio.... did I mention it's in Japan!! 

Glassy/Icy texture of the broken waters of Lake Biwa, Japan. 

Glassy/Icy texture of the broken waters of Lake Biwa, Japan. 

Erratic nature of water. 

Dwarfed by Biwako's 'Ohashi toll bridges'. 

Went hiking in the mountains, rain and fog makes for a Hike to remember! Ominous looking structure found along the way. 

Went hiking in the mountains, rain and fog makes for a Hike to remember! Ominous looking structure found along the way. 

This may look natural but the scene was pretty un-natural. The misty sheen was created by the burning of crop fields after harvest. 

This may look natural but the scene was pretty un-natural. The misty sheen was created by the burning of crop fields after harvest. 

Japans bullet train is a piece of beauty.  

My good friend and fellow artist Andrew Gifford visited Tokyo! Check out his work, you won't be disappointed http://www.jmlondon.com/artists/andrew-gifford/?section=exhibitions&artistID=223

My good friend and fellow artist Andrew Gifford visited Tokyo! 

Check out his work, you won't be disappointed http://www.jmlondon.com/artists/andrew-gifford/?section=exhibitions&artistID=223

(work in progress) Half of the painting didn't end up on the board... maybe I should of showed you a picture of the studio! 

(work in progress) Half of the painting didn't end up on the board... maybe I should of showed you a picture of the studio! 

Never been so inspired by what film can do. NEW INCUBATION 7 "Parallel World" featuring a short film by Eugene Kangawa. 

Never been so inspired by what film can do. NEW INCUBATION 7 "Parallel World" featuring a short film by Eugene Kangawa. 

35mm film in the works. 

Never previously worked with sculpture. Fortunately living in Japan you have access to materials like...VOLCANIC ROCK.  

Lifting heavy boulders of volcanic rock, using heavy duty power tools and weighty iron hammers and chisels...possibly the manliest an artist could feel. 

Monks definitely add to the production value.  

From sculpture to film my work has been challenging my comfort zone.

I can't wait to reveal some of the results! 

Please leave a comment, share and like this post to show your support.  

Japan 3.0. Kyoto, Initial Impressions.

Almost the same as an abandoned building gradually becoming consumed be nature. These temples have gradually become engrossed by modernisation. 

Capturing Surface. 

Torii Gates. 

Torii Gates. 

Path leading to Fushimi Inari Shrine. 

The great Buddha, Nara. 

Hundreds of deer freely roam the city streets of Nara. 

Hundreds of deer freely roam the city streets of Nara. 

Higashi Honganji Temple. 

Kyoto Castle. 

'Electrical Line'. 

'Journey Home'. 

'Journey Home'. 

'Mind the Gap' 

'Mind the Gap' 

My focus at the moment could be described as 'descoveries of the missed'.

This new inspiration excitingly is drawing me to completly new areas (sound, video)... 

I've been absorbing allot during this first period in Japan...the time has come to start responding!

I've been absorbing allot during this first period in Japan...the time has come to start responding!

Please comment, share and like (You can now also Pin to your Pinterest boards!) to show your support. 

To be continued...  

Japan 2.0, Arrival in Osaka.

こんにちは！

This photo doesn't do it justice but a sea of cloud covered the sky. 

This photo doesn't do it justice but a sea of cloud covered the sky. 

 Night Lights of Istanbul, Turkey.  

 Night Lights of Istanbul, Turkey.  

 View from the Hostel. All along the skirtings of the building lay Japans homeless. I was struck by the reality of this...I watched a man rummage through the bins each evening only for it all to be cleaned by morning.

Highstreets of Osaka. 

View from Shittenoji Temple. 

View from Shittenoji Temple. 

I was really drawn to the contrast between the natural and the un-natural.

Tsūtenkaku Tower, Futuristic Architecture. 

 Tsūtenkaku Tower dwarths the Osaka Skyline.

Osaka Castle, Zen Garden.

Osaka Castle, Nature is a reacouring theme.  

I watched from my hostel window as hundreds of homeless men and women lined up for the man with the great pot of soup. 

Alleyways of Osaka

Alleyways of Osaka

Osaka's towering advertisements. 

Not a bad way to end the week visiting Osaka. Universal Studios Japan.

Not a bad way to end the week visiting Osaka. Universal Studios Japan.

Please comment, share and like to show your support. 

To be continued...  

Japan 1.0, Departure.

Off to Japan for a year! I'll be studying at Seian University of Art & Design, can't wait to get stuck in! 

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I'll be updating this blog throughout the year...watch this space!