Shimizu Miho

Shimizu brought two different kites made in Fukuoka and in Vietnam to fly them at a local kite-flying contest in Marinatown City Beach Park in Atagohama. With advice from manykite-lovers, she could successfully fly the kites high up in the sky.
Photo credit : KAWASAKI Ittoku

Shimizu and another residency artist Yamamoto Seiko, 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.

Shimizu not only shared the story of Suzuki Shohei, a poet who created Shiragi-dako(kite), but also touched upon the outcomes of her research in Iki island, Nagasaki, Hirado, and Kitakyushu. She also invited the audience to visit the kite-flying contest which was scheduled to take place in Atagohama on October 1.

New artworks by Shimizu Miho at the Art Cafe, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
Photo credit : KAWASAKI Ittoku

Shimizu showed her new kites made during the residency, as well as the outcomes of her research across Kyushu in two venues, the studio at Artist Cafe Fukuoka and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum.
Photo credit : KAWASAKI Ittoku

Shimizu requested Prof. jeon seung hyouk of Kyushu Sangyo University to analyze the Shiragi-dako made by Suzuki Shohei and to make its reproduction. Shimizu came up with another question afterward that puzzled her however, at the same time, she was even more attracted to the Shiragi-dako.

Shimizu learned some curving techniques of the bamboo which will be used for her kite. With instruction given by another artist Noguchi Tappei, she tried many different ways.

Artist at work, making the kite in studio. Technically it is very difficult to make a kite with good design and feature.

Shimizu went to Marinatown City Beach Park (Atagohama), the venue for a local kite-flying contest, to test flying her own kite. The kite was interrupted by the very strong wind on the beach at first, but eventually went up high in the sky.

Shimizu visited a kite studio in Kitakyushu that has continued since the Meiji era. She learned about the design and production method of kites. Inspired by this visit, she decided to order a kite to show at the residency artist’s exhibition.

Shimizu went on a day trip to Iki island in Nagasaki, a famous place for Ondako, a traditional local kite. After visiting Ondako Kobo Hirao where she tried decorating kites, Shimizu also visited Sakyobana, a place for kite lovers to fly the kites. She also went to Iki City Ikikoku Museum, and some other places such as Onino-iwaya Kofun(ancient tomb), Kakegi Kofun, Soroku Kofun, and Onino-ashiato(which means a demon’s footpint, a large hole of a rock formation).

Shimizu met Shimizu Akio, a kite master and also a friend of the late poet Suzuki Shohei who used to make Shiragi-dako, to inquire about the shiragi-dako and their original kite.

Shimizu travelled to Yame, a well-known place for bamboo and washi (Japanese traditional paper), the two materials used for making kites. After hearing stories about bamboos from an artisan who makes bamboo blind, Shimizu also had a conversation with the local Chikuzen-biwa player. Later, the artist attended a lecture about Toro Ningyo (lantern puppetry) in Yame Fukushima and visited a studio for making Yame washi.

Shimizu introduced her past video and installation works and talked about the recent themes she has been focusing on, such as dreams, puppetry, and kites. The artist also shared her plans for research about the traditional cultures of kites in Kyushu.

Since she was planning to make a new artwork on a theme of kite, Shimizu went to FAAM to see the work by Soeung Vannara, one of the previously invited residency artists in 2002, who made works of kites.

The artist travelled to visit Tsunagi Art Museum in Kumamoto prefecture and saw their residency artist’s exhibition. Shimizu met Ohira Yukari the invited artist for the exhibit, and some other local artists from across Kyushu such as Kumamoto, Oita, and Miyazaki as well as people who works in the art field.

Shimizu saw the exhibition in the city museum and inquired the curator Matsumura Toshiki about the history and design of kite in Kyushu.

After receiving a guidance from FAAM curators and coordinators, Shimizu shared the plan for her research and art-making during the residency.