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Resonance of the Inner North

Could there be a shared spirituality amongst groups of people who are drawn to the spiritual dimension of North, one that transcends ethnic differences?

Motivated by this spirit of inquiry, the Spirit of North project brings together people from northern regions around the world, including the Tohoku region in Japan. Those with an affinity for the North come together with specialists from diverse fields to explore not the cardinal direction, but the spiritual dimension of North imagined in the mind. It is a collaborative exploration into humanity’s inherent orientation toward the North.

Launched in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, this project also stands in solidarity with the people of Tohoku who lost so much in the disaster. In particular, it supports the ongoing efforts of the people of Fukushima, who continue to shoulder the long-term burdens of the disaster, as they strive to reclaim a sense of identity. To date, the project has included collaborative international exhibitions presenting the works of participating artists at sites including the historic kura storehouses of Fukushima’s Aizu region, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and the Rovaniemi Art Museum in Finland

In a world that is increasingly turning away from harmony and coexistence, this project recognizes now more than ever the significance of activities that seek out the very essence of mutual understanding. It is with this conviction that this project brings artists into dialogue with local people and communities in each host region, while also fostering deeper understanding among the artists themselves. Through the presentation of their works, the artists compare and share the spiritual cultures of their respective homelands and their own visions of the North, deepening mutual understanding among the cultures of Japan, Finland, and Ireland.

2025.09.26