Sugihara Nobuyuki×Nakamura Ayaka

Sugihara and Nakamura shared their research experience in Shikanoshima Island where they learned about Azumi Isora, the ancestor of Azumizoku. The two also mentioned that they used organic materials such as nikawa and catechin from tea to combine marine sponges and seashells. To them, numerous seashells placed on the edges and corners of the gallery are represented as fragments of information gained from research.

The two artists concentrated on gluing marine sponges with nikawa for the boat and making the masks for the performance.

While developing the works to be displayed in the gallery, the two artists started making their masks which they will be wearing at the performance event on the 22nd.

On this day, another artist Kawabe Naho, who joined the previous artist in residence program (the third period of the fiscal year 2023), visited the studio in ACF. Sugihara and Nakamura explained their ongoing works.

DOCUPERU, who participated in the previous artist in residence program (the third period of the fiscal year 2022), visited the studio in ACF. They saw Sugihara and Nakamura’s ongoing works and had conversations with the artists.

On this day, they moved their workplace from the studio to the gallery to continue developing their artwork. They patiently worked on gluing marine sponges and seashells using nikawa.

The artists worked quietly and concentrated on gluing marine sponges that they picked up on the beach near Shikaumi shrine using nikawa (animal glue).

Students from Maizuru elementary school visited the museum and heard about Sugihara and Nakamura’s previous works and projects. Later, they moved to Art Cafe on the 7F, and participated in the workshop where they were invited to make original boats made from natural objects that the artist collected nearby Shikanoshima, as well as the ones their teachers had prepared.

The artists worked on gluing the shells they found with nikawa (animal glue).

On this day, Sugihara and Nakamura visited the Faculty of Art and Design, Kyushu Sangyo University, and also Kyushu Sangyo University Zokei Junior College. There they learned about some available facilities and studios inside the university. The two also saw the solo exhibition of Ushijima Tomoko at the Museum of Kyushu Sangyo University. Later, they went to see exhibitions in nearby contemporary art galleries, including the “philosophie” at the art space tetra, where they met a few artists, “Sakai Tadaomi” show at the art space baku, and “Wada Chiaki” exhibition in the gallery EUREKA.

On this day, the two visited Aizome-kasuri Kobo (an indigo dye studio) Yamamura Takeshi. They learned about the process of making Kurume-kasuri (indigo dye), from dying the fabric to weaving, lectured by the master of the fifth generation Yamamura Kensuke. Later, they visited another studio, Kobo-Ohki, which specializes in “Hanagoza,” a colorful mat woven in a traditional style called Kakegawa-ori, crafted from homegrown soft rush called igusa. They also had the chance to hear stories from a couple whose names are Hiromatsu, the only producer and artisan in Fukuoka who makes hana-goza, about their love and passion embedded in their craft of hanagoza, as well as see their precious weaving machine.

Lantern art designed and installed by Sugihara and Nakamura were displayed at the Festa Square (an aisle between Hotel Okura and Riverain Center Building) as part of the toumyou (lantern) arts festival.

Sugihara and Nakamura introduced their previous works created in Taiwan and Japan. The two described that they value encounters with different cultures in various places where they work, hearing stories from people as they collaborate to make new art, and participating in local festivals that inspire them. They also shared their research plan in Shikaumi Island, where Azuminoisora - an ancestor of the Azumino family - is enshrined, which would enable them to make a boat made from shells and a handmade mask symbolizing Azuminoisora to be included in their performance piece at the end of their residency.

After the guidance meeting with FAAM curators and AIR program coordinators, Sugihara and Nakamura looked at other spaces and facilities in Artist Cafe Fukuoka.