Well-known Itoshima artist-run gallery, studio and residency programme Studio Kura will host an exhibition this coming weekend featuring the work of eight international artists currently working at the space. The artists come from Norway, Germany, Italy, Singapore, and the United States.
• 5/26 (Sat.), 5/27 (Sun.)
• 11:00~18:00 (Sun.: 15:30 party and artist talk)
• Free
• Studio Kura
• 586 Nijomasue, Itoshima, Fukuoka
• https://studiokura.info/en/
The following outlines the eight artists and their work.
Tonje Horn Kolbjørnsen, Norway: “Fortsettelse følger: to be continued”
Exhibition style: Illustration
Tonje Horn Kolbjørnsen is an illustrator from Norway. At “Fortsettelse følger: to be continued”, she presents illustration drawings for a children’s book she has been working on, incorporating creatures such as charming crabs and big crows, and natural landscapes she saw in Itoshima.
—–
Miriam Salamander, Germany: “Returning Lines”
Exhibition style: Video and drawing
Miriam Salamander from Germany focuses on drawn based and printmaking work, depicting the imagery of landscape. At her show here, Miriam presents work representing an abstracted imagery of the natural surroundings and color schemes of Itoshima.
—–
Serena Della Bona, Italy: “Essenza dei luoghi: Notion of the place”
Exhibition style: Painting and installation art
This is her second time participating this program at Studio Kura. Serena exhibited large paintings on Japanese mythology as an installation show last February. This time, her installation consists of a collection of objects, watercolors and travel notes. Fantasy characters and landscapes are depicted through the observation of naturalistic landscapes.
—–
Warren Goh, Singapore: “Itoshima Childhood”
Exhibition style: Watercolor and ink
Working in the field of digital design and illustration in Singapore, he challenges to work on watercolor and ink paintings themed of daily magical moments realized by children. The experience of living in rural Japan may have reminded him of his own sweet childhood memories.
—–
Ashley B. Favor, United States: “Becoming (fully) Awake: (完全に)目覚める”
Exhibition style: Mixed media painting on wood panel and paper
Ashley Favor is a visual artist based in Denver, Colorado. Her work concerns sensations relating to energy, vibrance, connectedness, presence. Two months in Japan has allowed her to become more meditative, observant, and in tune with her surroundings. This opportunity has led her to become inspired by elements within the nature environment such as algae growing and water flowing.
—–
Alexis Hill, United States: “Burnables: 可燃物”
Exhibition style: Mixed media printmaking and painting
Alexis Hill is a printmaker based in New Hampshire in the bU.S. “Burnables” showcases mixed media pieces exploring visualization of the unfamiliar through memory. The paintings and prints operate outside of direct observation and interrogate feelings of distance as a foreigner in Japan mirrored in the distancing of process. Prints covered by paint, exposed by sanding, recovered by collage, there are many gestural processes and textures you could see in her works. These monochromatic colors stand out these unique features.
—–
Eric Strauss, United States: “Building Journeys”
Exhibition style: Black marker pen, watercolor and pastel
Fascinated with natural and built landscape, Eric Strauss enjoys plain air painting process. “Building Journeys” represents a fantasy of building environments, he incorporates his love of architectural design to celebrate various structures in his mind. “Sometimes my journeys take me rural environments which also come through in my drawings.”
—–
Marcus Farr, United States: “Material Patterns”
Exhibition style: Pencil, oil pen, intaglio
Marcus Farr is a Fulbright Scholar and leader of Material Artifact, a studio interested in matters of material reference & assemblage. Discussing the mundane and everyday use of patterns in architecture, place, and landscape in his show, the drawings create basic scenarios using patterns of material and monochromatic hue, and build upon geometric history found in local craft such as textiles, buildings, gardens, and tapestries.
