Japan Tag

Unpacking my archive 2022 – an opportunity to share a quick overview of my work to date Currently, I am engaged in research for a new chapter of work. In doing so, I unpacked a part of my archive to best understand my linear progression to date and provide context to new developments. Archive of the Natural World Lichen suspended in the kitchen with Vermeer 38 The new...

No Woman is an Island is a curated collection of works by seven award-winning female artists: Cath Bloomfield, Phoebe Cummings, Nicky Knowles RWA, Debbie Lee, Rebecca Newnham FRSS, Sarah Purvey, and Patricia Volk RWA FRSS.  I am delighted to be included in this exhibition, curated by Jacquiline Creswell, at the Vanner Gallery, which brings together mid-career women artists in a show which...

As the pandemic extended my thoughts were taken over by this unprecedented situation, with fear for the safety of my loved ones and frustration at the environmental disasters this planet endures. In my opinion, disrespect towards the current ecosystem has led to the conditions for a virus such as this coming about. My response to the situation we find ourselves in has been to create a...

Tokyo National Museum is unlike any museum I have ever visited. It is huge, organised and has lots of space. It actually succeeds in organising millennia of artefacts and sculptures into a semblance of order. One gallery begins by explaining: “Japan has three main traditions of sculpture, Buddhist deities, Shinto deities and portraits of people” There is room to appreciate each of...

Following the intoxicating, sublime serenity, and stimulation of Nezu, we went to Team Labs Borderless. This is a creative digital mecca, a collaboration of minds expressed in a wealth of innovative, stimulating visual feasts. It is fully immersive, saturating, fabulous and completely overwhelming. As we entered, we found a room leading to another room with projections on the walls....

Nezu is a museum and art gallery with an ancient garden. This was the first Japanese Garden I visited in Japan, and I was completely seduced. So many careful details: trees are wrapped with a rush-like mat, like a tree bracelet. There is no grass! instead, there is bare earth or moss or stones, raked gravel The planting was meticulous, water plays an important role and there were...

Koi, temples and aquaponics in Japan. Recently I returned from a trip to Japan and New Zealand. It was the sort of trip that changes you and I am now creating a new body of work inspired by the experience. My daughter is working in Japan and we travelled out together from London to Tokyo via Moscow. I was excited and curious to go to a city I had heard so much about but never...