Meitao Qu (曲美陶)

After showing images of her previous works and the new works on display at the exhibition on screen, Meitao organized a workshop inviting participants to make a miniature garden using models, shells, soft clays, and dolls.

Meitao talked about her new sculpture works, Treasure Ship and Immovables. She said her research experience in Fukuoka city including the Yamakasa festival, inspired her to make these works, and she had a Q and A conversation with Tomohiro Hanada and Naho Kawabe, the other two invited artists for the third period of the residency program.

Meitao first referred to her two-month stay and said she hoped to continue research in Fukuoka. Seeing many signs or advertisements stating “Next” in Fukuoka encouraged her to incorporate the word into her work. She also mentioned that the word “next” embodies the Western, forward and linear perspective of time, which stays dominant in our everyday lives and is apparent in these urban redevelopments. There have always been expectations and anxieties towards change. With that in mind, the artist encouraged each audience to comprehend the work.

Meitao showed her two sculpture pieces, Treasure Ship and Immovables in the gallery.
Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku

Meitao presented her new installation piece, To the Next.
Photo by: Kawasaki Ittoku

The artist was busy preparing for the works a week before the exhibition's opening. Meitao washed the feet of human figures and painted some tiles and a megaphone, all of which were to be included in her sculpture and installation piece.

Meitao assembled miniature models in the studio, based on her inspiration from research in Fukuoka.

On this day, with attendance and guidance from Shim Woo Hyeon, professor at Kyushu Sangyo University Zokei Junior College, Meitao and Tomohiro saw some available facilities for photography such as printing machines and darkroom. They then met Robert Pratt, professor at the Faculty of Art and Design, Kyushu Sangyo University.

Meitao talked about the big city of Shenzen, China, where she grew up, and introduced some of her previous sculptures, installations, and digital media works, which she explored to illustrate tensions between fact and fiction. She also shared her plan to delve into the history of Hanadensha in Fukuoka and across Japan, both traditional and commercial, during the residency.

Since Tomohiro Hanada, another invited residency artist for the third period, is joining the art project, Kiyoshima Apartment in Beppu, Oita, the three residency artists including Meitao visited Beppu to see the “Kiyoshima Apartment 2023 residency exhibition.” They also went to the office of BEPPU PROJECT, which runs the Kiyoshima Apartment, and heard about the works on view in the area or Kunisaki Peninsula.

The three artists visited an art studio located in front of Hakata station. They saw some available facilities, including laser printers, UV printers, garment printers, and industrial sewing machines.

After the guidance meeting with FAAM curators and AIR program coordinators, the three invited artists for the third period of the residency looked at other spaces and facilities in Artist Cafe Fukuoka.