| This is my first stay in Japan.
I came to here to get in touch with a fascinating
culture that has a substantial influence in
Europe.
I was especially interested in witnessing Japanese
ceramic objects and practitioners in their country
of origin and I was also hoping for a fertile
moment in my own work that reflected the influence
of the strange, exotic and inspiring working
and living conditions.
Some years ago I started to create ceramic
objects associated with the appearance of fish,
boats and similarly formed things that include
my basic interest in an organic connection of
long abstract forms with different cross-sections
The idea of boats is very close to my work;
"ship" in my language has its roots
in the meaning of vessels or dishes (originating
in the field of ceramics) continually inspiring
my point of departure.
The Japanese archipelago allows me to continue
my thought process, like work in progress associated
with related forms I have discovered around
me.
The way I work typically is to use coloured
porcelain and other clay types inlaid in the
surface of a rolled out slab of clay.
I use this coloured material partly as a plastic
effect right from the beginning of forming a
piece and I respond to these qualities whilst
in the making process.
In this manner I usually try to develop a surface
that gives the form a valuable character, a
lively surface and an association to this age-old
material that captures the memory of all thing
around us.
In this short residency it has not been easy
for me to decide on the right material and thus
an appropriate way to handle it, but I have
had a lot of help. I am very grateful to Ikue
Miyanaga as well as her colleagues at Seto City
Cultural Center, and the young ceramists in
the studio. They have given me indefatigable
and patient support in case of each problem
that I have had.
During my introduction to the habits and customs
of Japanese life, and the visual impact of Seto
City and its surroundings, I have had multifarious
experiences. I have very much enjoyed some warm
and interesting meetings with colleagues and
friends of Seto and surrounds. They have given
me a good state of mind and moments of feeling
no stranger in this different country.
Moreover I kept a diary:
This will help me to understand some of the
perplexing contradictions I felt during this
weeks here. I may have time in the future to
absorb this intriguing cultural experience.
I enjoyed the time very much and I am grateful
to all responsible people who made this stay
possible.
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