Concept for the Spirit of ‘North’ Vol. 5
For this exchange project, we have invited Finnish artists and researcher. To Finnish people, a forest is a sacred, peaceful zone, where their own hearts converse with certain trees that they believe are their own guardians. The Finnish lifestyle that places value on the spiritual nature seeks a purified mind and body by being within nature, so as to become a part of nature. Thus, it can suggest the true meaning behind the concept of “richness.”
When we encounter their views of nature that are filled with spiritual and mythical aspects, what sort of essences will surface and resonate within us?
Finland shares many commonalities with the Aizu region in Tohoku, such as the northern location, snow-covered land, and rich forests and water resources. In addition, both were once dominated by outside forces. We ask that you share in this opportunity with the Finnish artists and researcher to perceive the resonances of the artworks, to discover the rich features of the “north, ” and to seek out new perspectives from the Tohoku region.
Artists’ Biographies:
Chiba Naoko
Chiba Naoko was born in Iwate prefecture. Now she is living in Sakata city, Yamagata prefecture. Chiba is printing the 19th century photograph “cyanotype” on the handmade Japanese paper. The earliest works are the “Father’s House”. There are photographs that she continues taking the house of the family throughout her life. Those works mean how our existence was born from the social background and the history in that area.
In addition, Chiba exhibits of cyanotype works, videos and installations. She takes photographs about the climate and the life of people who live in the Northeast.
Maruyama Yoshiko
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/maryoshi/
Maruyama’s site-specific installations and paintings are concerned with the mystery of what makes us human and the quest for true human nature by looking at the relationships between the biological and social existence of human beings. Maruyama has met many people of diverse ethnicities and nationalities and been fascinated with their inner feelings and humanness.
She is working at the international art project Spirit of “North” as the founder and director in her birth place Fukushima since the earthquake disasters in 2011.
Helena Junttila
http://www.helenajunttila.net
Helena Junttila lives and works in North Finland, Lapland region, in Sodankylä. She is a versatile artist whose work appears in abundance techniques: watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oil, chalk and especially China ink. The very nature of Junttila´s art is probably local, based on living in Lapland. Though, the locality is expanding universal; the artist’s works are understood everywhere. Her work is characterized by a strong connection to the subconscious, and the nature of human self-examination. Junttila’s art has been defined in many ways. It is often associated with the following attributes: symbolism, myths, stories, subconscious, dreams, animals, femininity, and the forces of nature. Perhaps the best definition is the artist’s own: “I’m a storyteller – I tell good stories.”
Antti Ylönen
http://www.anttiylonen.fi/
Antti Ylönen started his artist career in mid eighties as a ceramist, but ingreasingly he has focused on visual arts. In his art the main themes that he has been dealing with are time and emotion, and the best material for him to express these things has been wood. Essential elements in using wood as material are also the story and the history of the material itself. Ylönen has been working several periods in Japan, twice in Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo and he also carried out commissioned sculpture for Minamisoma Concert Hall in 2003. He is also one of the founders of the International Art Center KulttuuriKauppila in Ii, Finland.
Kaisa Kerätär
Kaisa Kerätär was born in Finnish Lapland and her family background is both in Sami and in Finnish nations. The traditional northern life-style and way of living next to the nature is familiar to her as well as old traditions and culture of fishing, hunting and reindeer husbandry. She has been studying ecology, multiple-use of nature resources and environmental impact assessment in Oulu University. In her projects she likes to combine sociological, artistic and scientific approach and recent years the main objective in her work has been ecological restoration and design as well as well-being of a human communities.
Tokyo Exhibition: Vol. 4 Resonance—Tohoku and Finland
As the prologue of Spirit of ‘North’ 2015, this exhibition will introduce the works of the participating artists.
■Exhibition:
5-10 October, 2015, 12:00-19:00(-17:00 the last day)
Venue: Steps Gallery ( Ginza 4-4-13, chuo-ku, Tokyo) tel&fax: 03-6228-6195
http://www.stepsgallery.org
map:http://www.stepsgallery.org/map2.html
■Discussion:
10 October, 2015, 14:00-16:30
‘What’s the Project Spirit of ‘North’ ?’
‘What Is “Spirituality” to Finnish People who Coexist with the Spirits of Forests?’
Organizer: Spirit of “North” Executive Committee, Steps Gallery
Support: The Finnish Institute in Japan, FRAME Visual Art Finland, The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation
Assistance: studio mar
photo: Jukka Tarkiainen
Fukushima Project: Vol. 5 Resonance—Tohoku and Finland
In the Aizu region, the artists will stay and undertake activities in the mountain town of Mishima and the warehouse city of Kitakata. Their works that result from the outcomes of their activities will be on exhibit.
■Discussion:
‘Having Conversed with the Forest of Mishima’
The artists will introduce the works they originated from their experiences in Mishima. We will learn about the Finnish view of nature, while also discussing the natural environments in Mishima together with the audience.
24 October, 2015, 14:00-16:30
Venue: Miyashita Kasseika Center (address: Aza Tanaka, Oaza Miyashita, Mishima- machi, Fukushima Prefecture)
交通のご案内：（福島県の交通情報は「アクセス」をご参照ください）
三島町まで
列車： JR東北新幹線・東北本線 郡山駅→磐越西線(65分) 会津若松駅下車→JR只見線(90分) 会津宮下駅下車
都内浅草から東武線・野岩線・会津鉄道（265分）西若松駅下車→JR只見線(85分) 会津宮下駅下車
□高速バス：都内新宿から（260分）会津若松駅下車→JR只見線(90分) 会津宮下駅下車
会津宮下駅から会場まで：徒歩１分
□自動車：東北自動車道 郡山JCT→磐越自動車道（45分）会津坂下IC→国道252号（20分）
関越自動車道 小出IC→国道252号（140分）
＊三島町は「日本で最も美しい村」連盟に加盟し、森や川の絶景と工房の街が楽しめます。
■Exhibition: “Resonance—Tohoku and Finland”
The participating artists will exhibit their works at five traditional Japanese storehouses in Kitakata.
３-1５ November, 2015, 10:00-17:00
Venue: Traditional Japanese Storehouses in Otazuki-chiku Minami-machi Area (Kitakata, Fukushima)
Storehouses: Kanechu Zashiki-gura, Getakame Zashiki-gura, Ehon no Kura, Gallery Morzart, Murato Mise-gura
■Discussion：
‘The Zone Where Spirits Dwell: Finnish and Aizu People’s Perspectives on Nature’
8 November, 2015, 14:00-16:00
Lecturer: Kaisa Kerätär, Helena Junttila, Antti Ylönen, Kanke Hiroaki (guest)
Finnish people value spirituality in their lifestyles and in their views of nature, and also have a unique connection with trees. The three Finnish participants will introduce their own perspectives as well as discuss the Finnish consciousness. The bosom of the mountains where the Aizu people live is considered a sacred place. Aizu is also where imaginary creatures, such as the long-nosed tengu and kasha-neko (feline demon), originated. With the participation of a researcher of regional studies, Kanke Hiroaki, we will explore the spirituality and the resonances of the two countries.
‘Northern People’s Spirits: The Sami in Northern Europe and the Indigenous People in Tohoku’
14 November, 2015, 14:00-16:00
Lecturer: Kaisa Kerätär, Chiba Naoko, Yamanaka Yushi (guest)
In the Father’s House series, which Chiba Naoko considers to be her lifework, she takes photos of her ancestor’s land of Iwate Prefecture, where place names of Ainu origin still remain. Hence, she is familiar with the spiritual cultures of Tohoku. She has also lived in the land where Aterui (the chief of an indigenous people in Tohoku) once lived. Environmental Researcher Kaisa Kerätär’s origins are Finnish and with the indigenous Sami people of northern Europe. Thus, her unique studies are associated with Sami traditions and cultures. These two participants will talk about their own personal memories. In addition, Historical Archeologist Yamanaka Yushi will join them in unfolding the spirituality of the ancestors of the two countries.
交通のご案内：（福島県の交通情報は「アクセス」をご参照ください）
喜多方市まで
□列車： JR東北新幹線・東北本線 郡山駅→磐越西線（85分）喜多方駅下車
□高速バス（JRバス関東／会津バス）：都内新宿から（300分）→喜多方駅前「喜多方営業所」下車
https://www.kousokubus.net
＊磐越西線や高速乗り合いバスは、喜多方までの運行が限られているため、時刻を予めご確認下さい。
□自動車：東北自動車道 郡山JCT→磐越自動車道（40分）会津若松IC→国道121号（25分）
＊「馬車の駅」裏のパーキングに駐車する際は、お店にお声がけ下さい。
喜多方駅から会場まで：
□会津バス：会津若松行き「南小田付」下車
□まちなか循環バス：ぶらりん号「南町・馬車の駅」下車
□徒歩30分 駅前からレンタサイクルもあります。
Organizer: Spirit of “North” Executive Committee
Sponsors: The Finnish Institute in Japan, The Asahi Simbun Foundation, FRAME Visual Art Finland, The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation, Kitakata Chuo Rotary Club
Cooperation: Fukushima Prefecture, Kitakata City, Mishima-machi
Assistance: Hama-Naka-Aizu Project, NPO Machizukuri Kitakata, IORI Club, Aizu Kitakata Board of Trade, Kanechu Zashiki-gura, Getakame Zashiki-gura, Ehon no Kura, Gallery Morzart, Murato Mise-gura, Miyashita Kasseika Center, Seikatsu Kougei kan, Karan Koron, Sakuma Kensetsu Kogyo Corp., Itoya Ryokan, Sato Yauemon, Sakuma Soichi, Tsuki to Ohisama, studio mar, etc.