2023 Residence Japan

Yamamoto Seiko

2023 Residence Program

Born in 1981. Lives and works in Fukuoka, Japan
2021 “VOCA-the Vision of Contemporary Art 2021” The Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo, Japan
2020 "Red which dropped on tip of Black – ‘Good night, Good weather, isn’t it ??’ Young gallery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2011 The Grand Prize “Rokko meets Art 2011”
2011 The Grand Prize “Tokyo Midtown Award 2011”


[Residence Program] Jul 4, 2023〜Sep 27, 2023
Yamamoto Seiko Official website
Yamamoto Seiko Offieial Instagram

Profile

Yamamoto‘s creation derives from the homogeneous atmosphere of the new town where she grew up and her uncomfortable feelings regarding physical stances there. Recently the artist has applied this point of view to other cities she visited for residency programmes. The artist captured the town and lives of people through observation as “colors of signs, “and her creation expands in different media such as video, installation, and sculptures.
In Fukuoka, Yamamoto plans to do research on steel, the material which she has been working on since she was a student, and also about some historical places related to “modern industrialization after the Meiji era,” that had a significant impact on her own body which grew up in apartment complex. Her research will be foundational to her video installation work which raises a question about how human bodies have been treated, changed or will change through time to time.

"Red which dropped on tip of Black – “Good night, Good weather, isn’t it ??" 2020
"Vibrating Geometry " 2019 Photo by Hirose Hisaya
"the skin" 2020 Photo by Ueno Norihiro

WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2023 Dialogue ―― Deeper and Further

"Whitewash, Bleeding Red" 2023 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
"Whitewash, Bleeding Red" 2023 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
"Whitewash, Bleeding Red" 2023 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
"Overtone of Geometry -Red" 2023 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Exhibition view Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Exhibition view Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku

Interaction Diary

September 23 – Talk Session on Residency Program – “Dialogue”
(Studio, Artist Cafe Fukuoka)

Yamamoto and another residency artist Shimizu Miho, together with Nagano Sakurako and Shimodera Takanori, the two artists from the last year’s residency program who jumped in on the day, talked about what they felt good about FAAM AIR program. They also exchanged frank opinions about what improvements can be made and some other prospects for the residency program.

September 17 – Gallery Talk : Yamamoto Seiko + Shimizu Miho + Jin Choi and Thomas Shine
(Gallery, the Artist Cafe Fukuoka) 

Yamamoto did a performance in the gallery using a 50cm long iron stick which appears in her video work. The artist hit the wall or objects inside the gallery with the iron stick. Later during the artist talk Yamamoto touched upon the theme of her work, the iron, human body, and its energy while referring to her own experience.

September 16 – October 22 – Residency Exhibition WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2023 Dialogue : Deeper and Further
(In front of Asia Gallery, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum)

"Overtone of Geometry – Red" was exhibited with her other new drawings and works by students from Seika Gakuen High School (Fukuoka Higashi Branch) who joined the workshop Color Diary - on a Day. Photo credit : KAWASAKI Ittoku

September 16-24 – Residency Exhibition WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2023 Dialogue : Deeper and Further
(Grand Studio, the Artist Cafe Fukuoka)

The new artworks by Yamamto, Whitewash, Bleeding Red, Overtone of Geometry – Red, and other drawing pieces created during the residency were exhibited.
Photo credit : KAWASAKI Ittoku

September 6 - Sound recording and Film Editing

Yamamoto did a sound recording for a narration and editing work.

August 16 - Additional Shooting at Shiroyama Apartment Complex and Artist’s Home

Yamamoto conducted additional shooting to film temporary walls of the apartment complex, which was being demolished as well as a baby’s skin at home.
Videography: MAKIZONO Kenji

August 1-Interview with Residents of Koshiba Apartment Complex

Yamamoto interviewed residents of the Koshiba Apartment Complex, whom she met at the shooting on July 20. The interviewees shared memories of their longtime, soon-to-be-demolished homes and their anxieties before moving into a new place.

July 31 and August 2 - Shooting at the Nippon Steel Corporation Kyushu Works

With the help of Nippon Steel Corporation Kyushu Works, Yamamoto conducted a two-day shoot to film the iron-making process. The artist visited several facilities inside the factory. The shooting was done under extremely high temperatures, which made it difficult for her even to breathe.
Videography : MATSUDA Gaku

July 28- Shooting of Apartment Complex

Visited public apartment complex in Fukuoka for new artwork. The artist also met people who currently lives in the apartment and former residents to hear their stories.

July 23 – Artist Talk : Jin Choi and Thomas Shine + Yamamoto Seiko + Shimizu Miho
(Held at the community space at the Artist Cafe Fukuoka)

Yamamoto talked about her previous video and installation works created based on a theme of “colors of signs” in the new town where she grew up and in different cities which she visited during other residency programs.

July 15-Research at Kitakyushu Literature Museum

Visited Kitakyushu Literature Museum to access resources about the magazine issued by the people who worked at Yahata Steel.

July 13-Workshop “Color Diary – on a Day” at FAAM.

On this day, Yamamoto met students from Seika Gakuen High School (Fukuoka Higashi Branch) and shared stories of herself growing up in a new town, as well as her thoughts regarding previous works. Later, each student recalled one of the days in their lives and
visualized the events of that day with some colors on a paper. They then made a collage piece using these paper cards.

July 7-Research at the demolition site of an apartment complex

Yamamoto travelled to see the demolition work in an old apartment complex, after 50 years since its construction. The artist also conducted an interview with the staffs and had them choose some discarded objects which she will use in her new artwork.

July 5 – First day in Artist Cafe Fukuoka

Yamamoto saw the studio and other facilities in Artist Cafe Fukuoka. After a guidance from FAAM curators and coordinators, Yamamoto’s plan for research and art-making during the residency was shared at the meeting.