The 'Japanese Elements' residency concept for the artist in residence in September-October 2022 at Saruya AIR in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi in Japan, is a reflection and a perpetual dialogue, between abstraction and representation across histories and cultures at the core of their individual mixed media practices. The unifying theme within the 'Japanese Elements' concept is their investigations into the possibilities to transfer their impressions and experiences in Japan by means of contemporary painting. The development of new works during this residency, would strongly be inspired by Japanese heritage and culture in a wider perspective.
An additional
conceptual aspect and value for this residency can be found within the Kintsugi
and Wabi-Sabi philosophy. As a philosophy, kintsugi can be seen to have
similarities to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, an embracing of the
flawed or imperfect. Japanese aesthetics values markings of wear from using an object.
This keeping of an object around even after it has broken and as a
justification of kintsugi itself, highlighting the cracks and repairs as simply
an event in the life of an object rather than allowing its service to end at
the time of its damage or breakage. Wabi-sabi can be defined as the most
conspicuous and characteristic feature of traditional Japanese beauty and it
occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic
values as do the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the far
West. Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple
realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.
At the end of the residency a presentation of works created at Saruya AIR in Fujuyoshida, Yamanashi from September 15 till October 15 has been presented to the public. Francis Beaty, Larisa Sjoerds, Susumu Ohira, Ron Weijers, Michael Vecellio and our special guest Nobxhiro Santana presented their works to the public at Saruya Artist Residency - 3 Chome-28-8 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0004 Japan.
