Nazia Andaleeb Preema :
Have you ever thought how controlled we are in your quotidian considerations which are increasingly killing our inner selves? Well, sadly this is a colossal benchmark to think about and thus I believe the aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but our inward significance.
I rambled and wandered in my thoughts of escaping all the depraved going on around and I categorically departed by. Fukuoka, Itoshima village in Japan, where I just finished my month long residency program at Studio Kura after almost 4.5 years. Wabisabi refers to a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the inadequacies of life and serenely accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay) and to experience it on the land of culture and concord was not my first time nonetheless. Sensation of Japanese culture, its tradition and their immense natural humbleness towards life and art brings a greater phenomenon to a casing crowd of desirability. Our bunch carried six different enthusiasts from Canada, Finland, Germany, France, Australia and Bangladesh. We had two houses to stay. Me and my fellow roommates Charlotte Clermont who is a video artist and Inker Jantti a talented photographer shared one house. They, Cathy Laudenbach, Thomas Hoeren, Anne-Sophie Guillet all visual artists were my family for a month as my creative soul mates. I can still feel their subtle voice and untold affection, collaboration around me. An atmosphere theaters an imperative part of any creative soul. Artists may portray different perspectives, but for me this residency in Fukuoka was an amazingly Creative gesticulation which Japanese would say Kintsukuroi (the art of repairing a broken pottery with gold or silver and that the piece becomes additionally valuable and sturdier for being broken after a rebirth) as after 1stJuly 2016, I have witnessed that my city was literally broke and it shook me from my core. I desired to be touched by the gratifying absence of distress which emphasizes on simplicity of contentment and hence chose a place where I thought I would be able to get back what I thought I lost. I got a golden patch now through me to be able to kiss the soothing range of feel it all again.
Ikisan is one of the places in Itoshima, far away from the cities; it takes 25 stations from the Fukuoka city, under Kyushu Prefecture. I wanted to be immersed in nature and Japanese beliefs to let myself be touched by every come upon marvels. Studio Kura was in a rural area close to rice fields and the sea which I felt were exactly the rudiments I needed to reconnect with. Drowned in countryside, walking for two hours I could heal myself from the illness of urban bedlam. Observe green 24/7 and the changes of colors at different times of the day and night. Able to texture the smell of the heat, cold and silence, watch each small difference appear from the breeze on a leaf or on the surface of water. Illumination of the energy of its flora and culture.
‘Be passionate about everything that passes by that deep rush leading to manifest life all over again’
Walking and the link with nature is a mysterious relationship. I felt grateful to be an artist. I knew this will lift my spirit up to explore my art at an unknown path to surprise myself as well.I closely observed all the attitude, elements and objects those passed by and made the most out of it with boundless curiosity. It’s very important for me to be totally involved without any hesitancy. I intensely believe it is important as an artist to embrace and sense every feature of the existence around me – still, moving, silent and what not. It was in one word, Sugoi – awesome!
Life is 10 per cent of what happens to us and 90 per cent how we react to it. Thus art enables artists to visualize the extensive form of reaction which ought to be fully involved with environment, society, people and surroundings.
For me this isolated Ikisan village of Japan was extremely engaging as the entire artist those were with me in the residency got their own perspectives and expression to react for and express through their own medium of fields. Some were into photographs, video or sight specific. In the inaudible nature of the village, each of us was engaging in deeper aesthetes of passionate journey. For me it was always an inner search of belongings of the place and inspiring my soul to sooth in and soak into the power of nature that allow us create the unknown.
The Japanese weather at that time was unpredictable. So my consciousness was constantly aroused by the natural drama. Since the environment was new to me I was exhilarated to feel the surrounding with a delusional state of mind. Delusion can be so powerful as it gave me enormous strength to search my symbol and object to nurture my creativity. I was a constant observer. Every morning at 6, at 12 – I heard a melody coming from somewhere to encourage and encounter my soul. It was not the perfect time of Sakura Cheery blossom but that’s why I missed their white and pink beauty in nature. The depression inspired me to create imaginary Kimono by artificial fabric and it was at the display at the exhibition at the end of the residency programme. Culinary Japanese cuisine and the traditional food was a perfect blend to entangle with the culture. The raw fish, live squid, various types of Soba, udon and noodles were the core ingredient to understand a food habit which truly inspired me to understand a simple and pure yet very artistic delicacy. I would never know that Japanese rice can be so juicy if I didn’t have it in my mouth to feel its rich authentic texture.
Every ingredient of their food items got a meaning. And I felt Itadakimasu meaning ‘I will have this ‘ It is used before eating any food to express appreciation and respect for life, nature, the person who prepared the food, the person who served the food, and everything else that is related to eating.
It was Ukiyo for me, as I was in ‘the floating world’ – living in the moment detached from the bothers of life. I was watching Charlotte the video artist from Quebec, continuously researching on her old television, tape recorder, sound and unknown fonts in collaboration with visual collages, and I was busy transforming my usable objects into art. I used soba, bamboo leaves, fish and gold papers to mark my experimental art in my residency. I was planning to have an integrated exhibition to showcase my experience. InkeriJantti, a young Japanese woman, was focusing on Ayami lives and supporting art and other humanitarian activities. I collaborated with her warm body surface to create a dialogue through painting and performance. I wanted my soul to be free to react to any kind of emotional and visual symbols. InkeriJantti took Ayami to the woods and beach to explore her inner spirit by the breeze of ocean and spark of the nature. It inspired me immensely. I took my SLR and through the canal of Fukuoka city near Tenjin and Hakata to capture my Hotaru, a Firefly series. Japan at night is surrounded by lights which reflect on the canal creating a magical yet mysterious atmosphere. It drew me into a world of illumination. With my SLR and my curious mind I walked miles after miles. When I close my eyes I still can feel the silence of nature and all those lights that come through the leaves Komorebi. I believe a complete artist should be able to bathe in the forest, he or she should be able to consent encounters with no fear. An artist should always want to be at the end of the world, meet new, strange and weird people who can stir their artistic ability to test their limits. (Photo: : Inkeri Jantti) To be continued…
Have you ever thought how controlled we are in your quotidian considerations which are increasingly killing our inner selves? Well, sadly this is a colossal benchmark to think about and thus I believe the aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but our inward significance.
I rambled and wandered in my thoughts of escaping all the depraved going on around and I categorically departed by. Fukuoka, Itoshima village in Japan, where I just finished my month long residency program at Studio Kura after almost 4.5 years. Wabisabi refers to a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the inadequacies of life and serenely accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay) and to experience it on the land of culture and concord was not my first time nonetheless. Sensation of Japanese culture, its tradition and their immense natural humbleness towards life and art brings a greater phenomenon to a casing crowd of desirability. Our bunch carried six different enthusiasts from Canada, Finland, Germany, France, Australia and Bangladesh. We had two houses to stay. Me and my fellow roommates Charlotte Clermont who is a video artist and Inker Jantti a talented photographer shared one house. They, Cathy Laudenbach, Thomas Hoeren, Anne-Sophie Guillet all visual artists were my family for a month as my creative soul mates. I can still feel their subtle voice and untold affection, collaboration around me. An atmosphere theaters an imperative part of any creative soul. Artists may portray different perspectives, but for me this residency in Fukuoka was an amazingly Creative gesticulation which Japanese would say Kintsukuroi (the art of repairing a broken pottery with gold or silver and that the piece becomes additionally valuable and sturdier for being broken after a rebirth) as after 1stJuly 2016, I have witnessed that my city was literally broke and it shook me from my core. I desired to be touched by the gratifying absence of distress which emphasizes on simplicity of contentment and hence chose a place where I thought I would be able to get back what I thought I lost. I got a golden patch now through me to be able to kiss the soothing range of feel it all again.
Ikisan is one of the places in Itoshima, far away from the cities; it takes 25 stations from the Fukuoka city, under Kyushu Prefecture. I wanted to be immersed in nature and Japanese beliefs to let myself be touched by every come upon marvels. Studio Kura was in a rural area close to rice fields and the sea which I felt were exactly the rudiments I needed to reconnect with. Drowned in countryside, walking for two hours I could heal myself from the illness of urban bedlam. Observe green 24/7 and the changes of colors at different times of the day and night. Able to texture the smell of the heat, cold and silence, watch each small difference appear from the breeze on a leaf or on the surface of water. Illumination of the energy of its flora and culture.
‘Be passionate about everything that passes by that deep rush leading to manifest life all over again’
Walking and the link with nature is a mysterious relationship. I felt grateful to be an artist. I knew this will lift my spirit up to explore my art at an unknown path to surprise myself as well.I closely observed all the attitude, elements and objects those passed by and made the most out of it with boundless curiosity. It’s very important for me to be totally involved without any hesitancy. I intensely believe it is important as an artist to embrace and sense every feature of the existence around me – still, moving, silent and what not. It was in one word, Sugoi – awesome!
Life is 10 per cent of what happens to us and 90 per cent how we react to it. Thus art enables artists to visualize the extensive form of reaction which ought to be fully involved with environment, society, people and surroundings.
For me this isolated Ikisan village of Japan was extremely engaging as the entire artist those were with me in the residency got their own perspectives and expression to react for and express through their own medium of fields. Some were into photographs, video or sight specific. In the inaudible nature of the village, each of us was engaging in deeper aesthetes of passionate journey. For me it was always an inner search of belongings of the place and inspiring my soul to sooth in and soak into the power of nature that allow us create the unknown.
The Japanese weather at that time was unpredictable. So my consciousness was constantly aroused by the natural drama. Since the environment was new to me I was exhilarated to feel the surrounding with a delusional state of mind. Delusion can be so powerful as it gave me enormous strength to search my symbol and object to nurture my creativity. I was a constant observer. Every morning at 6, at 12 – I heard a melody coming from somewhere to encourage and encounter my soul. It was not the perfect time of Sakura Cheery blossom but that’s why I missed their white and pink beauty in nature. The depression inspired me to create imaginary Kimono by artificial fabric and it was at the display at the exhibition at the end of the residency programme. Culinary Japanese cuisine and the traditional food was a perfect blend to entangle with the culture. The raw fish, live squid, various types of Soba, udon and noodles were the core ingredient to understand a food habit which truly inspired me to understand a simple and pure yet very artistic delicacy. I would never know that Japanese rice can be so juicy if I didn’t have it in my mouth to feel its rich authentic texture.
Every ingredient of their food items got a meaning. And I felt Itadakimasu meaning ‘I will have this ‘ It is used before eating any food to express appreciation and respect for life, nature, the person who prepared the food, the person who served the food, and everything else that is related to eating.
It was Ukiyo for me, as I was in ‘the floating world’ – living in the moment detached from the bothers of life. I was watching Charlotte the video artist from Quebec, continuously researching on her old television, tape recorder, sound and unknown fonts in collaboration with visual collages, and I was busy transforming my usable objects into art. I used soba, bamboo leaves, fish and gold papers to mark my experimental art in my residency. I was planning to have an integrated exhibition to showcase my experience. InkeriJantti, a young Japanese woman, was focusing on Ayami lives and supporting art and other humanitarian activities. I collaborated with her warm body surface to create a dialogue through painting and performance. I wanted my soul to be free to react to any kind of emotional and visual symbols. InkeriJantti took Ayami to the woods and beach to explore her inner spirit by the breeze of ocean and spark of the nature. It inspired me immensely. I took my SLR and through the canal of Fukuoka city near Tenjin and Hakata to capture my Hotaru, a Firefly series. Japan at night is surrounded by lights which reflect on the canal creating a magical yet mysterious atmosphere. It drew me into a world of illumination. With my SLR and my curious mind I walked miles after miles. When I close my eyes I still can feel the silence of nature and all those lights that come through the leaves Komorebi. I believe a complete artist should be able to bathe in the forest, he or she should be able to consent encounters with no fear. An artist should always want to be at the end of the world, meet new, strange and weird people who can stir their artistic ability to test their limits. (Photo: : Inkeri Jantti) To be continued…
