Well-known Itoshima artist-run gallery, studio and residency programme Studio Kura will host an exhibition featuring the work of eight international artists currently working at the space. The artists come from Norway, Canada, Iceland, Singapore, Netherlands, and United States.
• 12/22 (Sat.) ~ 12/24 (Mon., hol.)
• 11:00~17:00
• 12/22: Artist talk 15:30~
• Free
• Studio Kura
• 586 Nijo-masue, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• https://studiokura.info/en/
The following outlines the eight artists and their work.
Karolina Nowosielska (Norway): “花鳥風月 Kachofugetsu”
Exhibition style: Photography
Karolina Nowosielska is a fine art photographer, currently lives and works in Ålesund, Norway. The show title “花鳥風月 Kachofugetsu” is a Japanese expression/proverb: Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon. Taking this proverb to “experience the beauty of the nature and by doing so, learn about yourself”, her 8-week stay in Itoshima opened her heart and brought her close to herself. The artist attempts to illustrate the beautiful journey to the essence of life through photography.
Jessica Auer and Zuhaitz Akizu (Canada, Iceland): “Big fish like a hill”
Exhibition style: Visual Art
Jessica Auer is a visual artist and photography professor from Montreal, Canada. Zuhaitz Akizu is an artist from the Basque Country who lives and works in Iceland. During their residency at Studio Kura, Jessica Auer and Zuhaitz Akizu examined representations of whales in Japanese art, researching on Japan’s spiritual relationship with whales, particularly in relation to their whaling culture.
Khor Ke Xin (Singapore): “My Simple Life 私のシンプルライフ”
Exhibition style: Drawing, Illustration
An aspiring self-taught artist based in Singapore, Khor Ke Xin will be sharing her story of living in Itoshima through her illustrations, uncovering sensory experiences through the likes of struggles with household chores and daily adventures.
Sanne van de Goor (The Netherlands): “Folding Thoughts”
Exhibition style: Installation
Sanne van de Goor is a graphic designer based in Amsterdam. Inspired from a traditional Japanese paper clothing called kamiko, Sanne displays over 50 folded papers which she asked residents of Itoshima to fold with carbon paper to fit into an octagon-shaped vessel. Carbon paper traced the movements of people’s folding style, creating an imprint of each action. By displaying all papers together, the exhibit would show the variations of these patterns of thoughts.
Zhongsheng Gu (United States): “冬至 Winter Solstice”
Exhibition style: Photography
A Chinese photographer and visual artist, Zhongsheng Gu has been living and working in New York since 2013. The Winter Solstice, which will occur on December 22, is one of the most important festivals in East Asia. Following with the positive idea of Winter Solstice, it reflects on Gu’s photography practice, expressing his hope through his experience of staying in Japan.
Kyle Bates (United States): “Second Self”
Exhibition style: Audiovisual installation
Kyle Bates is a Pacific Northwest-based musician, audio visual artist, and writer. Bates presents a new audiovisual work, Second Self, that examines disconnection from and engagement with the physical world through a bipolar lens.
Ginnie Hsu (United States): “The Mundane Magic 平凡の魔法”
Exhibition style: Multi-Media
Ginnie Hsu is a multimedia Designer, educator, illustrator and maker living in Starkville, Mississippi, United States. Her work is often inspired by everyday life, nature, human living, and well-being. Focusing on human-centered design for the greater good, Hsu presents a collection of multimedia artworks focused on the townspeople’s daily life in Itoshima.
