Japan
My links with Japan came about through a project instigated by Julia Cassim, Research Fellow at the Royal College of Art, London. I was one of four British artists to have my work selected by her for an exhibition in Okayama in 2004.
The success of the show led to the work being invited to tour further venues in Nara and Fukuoka in 2005 (see exhibition details).
Through funding applications to the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and British Council, Japan, I was able to visit Japan in August to September 2005. I undertook a lecture and workshop tour in partnership with Fukuoka Centre for Arts and Cultural Promotion. This included presenting at Tokyo Contemporary Art Gallery and at a disability arts conference in Fukuoka. I was able to meet a number of Japanese disability arts organisations as well as Japanese artists, throughout the course of the tour.
At the end of the lecture tour I was able to spend some time to develop my own art practice. In Kyoto I visited some of the Zen gardens. I have continued to make work inspired by these visits. (see Art Work)
Responses from visitors
"I imagined from the title 'another way of seeing' that this must be a kind of trick art. However, now I understand it means the way of seeing when I become different myself"
"I am a photographer, aim to be professional. I would like to take photos like Sally-san, which are soft, warm and me feel like watching forever."
"This exhibition taught me that relying on sight is to be in danger of losing sensibility."
"I notice that there are many people with such a sense in the world and how they live. This discovery is 'another way of seeing to me'".
"An artist is an artist under any circumstances."
