Shindo Fuyuka

Shindo saw the special exhibition at the Tagawa Museum of Art and later went to visit Coal Mine Memorial Park, which tells of the historical and cultural legacy of coal mining in the area. Shindo then walked to the Ita Shopping Street, which used to be a large bustling area during the peak of coal mining industry.

On this day, Shindo visited Hiraodai, a karst plateau located in the Kitakyushu Quasi-National Park, Hirotani Wesland and Seiryukutsu, one of the largest limestone caves in the Hiraodai area. Shindo joined the pre-start preparation trip for the “Seiryukutsu Former Tourist Cave Exploration” organized by Hiraodai Nature Observation Center, and visited several locations with staff and volunteer members of the center.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between November 21 and December 14 were the days for the Open Studio, where anyone can take a look at the research materials, maps, and photographs collected by the artist, and also do some crafts, drawing, make a hand-made house, invent new games, or just spend time for fun as they wish. Since it happened for several days, many objects, from small to large, were made.

On this day, Shindo went on a research trip, primarily focused on the Kawachi water reservoir, an artificial lake created in 1919 as part of the third expansion work to suffice water supply of the Yahata Steel Works ahead of its business extension. Later, Shindo went to visit an alternative space operation table, one of the venues for Onga-gawa Shinwa-no Geijutsusai (Onga-gawa Myths Art Festival 2025). At the end of the day, Shindo saw Gunkan-bo-ha-tei (Hibikinada-chinkan-gogan), a breakwater partly constructed by dismantled warships.

Shindo visited an exhibition Shine on Me, a solo show by Susan Phillipsz, which opened as the Dazaifu Tenmangu Art Program vol. 12 at the museum located inside the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine. Later, Shindo traveled to Miyama City to learn about the Kyushu Geibun-kan Kaminosho Artist in Residence program, joined by Hanada Tomohiro, who got invited to the third period of FAAM AIR Program 2023.

Shindo visited Manda Pit, which is part of the Miike Coal Mine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 as “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” There, the artist had a chance to look at the remains of its facilities, such as the heavy brick architecture, a pithead where mine workers passed through to go below and above ground, and machinery rooms equipped with large machines.

Guided by a volunteer who works for a local sightseeing tour in Fukuoka City, Shindo learned about the architectural structure and function of the Fukuoka Castle together with its historical backgrounds, through visits to various places including an exhibition, a relocated castle gate, remains of turrets to prevent maritime forces, and the restored Shiomi Turret.

In her studio, Shindo set up copies of references about people who moved to Hokkaido or those related to coal mines, and encouraged participants to make a picture or collage. She talked with participants about specific characteristics of Fukuoka and Hokkaido, as well as her artwork, which she will be making during the residency.

Shindo introduced her previous works and her current research on the history of the people who migrated from Fukuoka to Hokkaido. The artist also explained the landscape transformation near Ohori Park while referring to some old local maps. In the Q&A session, Shindo asked the audience about their thoughts on identity and told them that she hopes to learn different perspectives and acceptance in history that are distinct from what she has been seeing.

After joining a gallery tour of the exhibition “Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Best Collection Ⅲ Breaking the Conventional: New Self-Portraits” led by the museum volunteers, Shindo was invited to a welcome party in the meeting room.

On this day, Shindo travelled to Itoshima City in Fukuoka Prefecture, to visit an international art festival Itoshima Arts Farm. There she joined several events including an artist talk, Inariyama Kansatsu Walk, performance by Taiwanese artist Iris Chun-Tzu Chang at Studio Kura, and a game titled “Exercises for Culture” held nearby the beach.

Shindo met FAAM curators and coordinators, introduced them her previous works, and shared her plans for work and research in Fukuoka. Later, Prof. Yuki Madoka who teaches at the Faculty of Design in Kyushu University and some students visited her in studio. Shindo did a presentation about her past works and projects, and shared some ideas for her future work.