The last fall, I visited to Scotland and stayed at Su Grierson’s home for the reunion with old friends from Estonia, Sweden and Japan. Su is the first participating artist of my project “Spirit of North” in 2013. She proposed me to hold “Spirit of North” in Scotland in 2021, when the 10 years anniversary after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

I am very happy with such a proposal. Because when I work with a person who has the same strong motivation, the result is much greater. When prepared by both exchange countries, motivation, fund acquisition, and public relations will be doubled, and the possibilities will be far greater. Scottish artist Gillian joined me and Su, and the three of us started to prepare for Spirit of North 2021 in Scotland as the organizer team.

After that, the new coronavirus spread all over the world, and the plan was forced to change drastically. Traveling from Japan to the UK must be quite difficult. So, we changed our plan to thinking about this inaccessible situation and trying to find new ways for better understanding each other. I contacted artists who will correspond flexibility and create in responding to such conditions, and four Japanese artists were decided. And four Scottish artists were also decided.

The exhibitions will be held at each spaces in both countries, all 8 artists will relate with the both, and linked each other. I have to prepare a venue for the Japanese side as well for the next year. So I decided to apply for the opportunity of exhibition to certain place. While the preparing application, my thought about the theme becames clear gradually.
“Spirit of North” vol.11 will be held in the 10th years after the earthquake in Tohoku.

 

Exhibition: Spirit of North: Confluence

Period: 2021 June-July or September-October
Venue: Applying
Participating Artists:
Japan/ MARUYAMA Yoshiko, ASAI Mariko, TAKIZAWA Tatsushi, MARUYAMA Tokio
Scotland/ Su GRIERSON, Gillian Adair MCFARLAND, Kyra CLEGG, Inge PANNEELS