JOURNALS

Mr. Shimada and I stayed in Norway for the first time from 28th August to 4th September, we were met by Anniken and Gabriella and our sojourn in the lovely apartment began.

On the 29th the day after our arrival, we all went with Lesley to Galleri F15. The weather was glorious, and the location, as you might expect from a resort area in summer, was fantastic - bathed in bright sunlight with the sea in the distance.
I felt that the building was wonderful and atmospheric, and the exterior was very interesting. Anniken and I agreed to use a greenhouse (glasshouse) in our collaboration as she had suggested.

At her studio on the 31st, Anniken and I were interviewed by Lesley. I showed them the sample I had brought from Japan, and we tried out a number of experimental things as we considered how we might link this with Anniken’s works into the greenhouse, but we still had plenty to think about in the future.
For my own piece, I have decided to deviate completely from the knitting and papermaking techniques which I have been using over the last 10 years and experiment with a piece created from mirror sheet.  My ideas are still sketchy and I'm not sure myself how to develop them so I feel a little uncertain as I proceed bit by bit. I still have a long way to go revising my ideas as I develop them, but during my stay in Norway I took a number of photographs and intend to make some experimental inkjet prints.

I am most indebted to Anniken and Gabriella for looking after me during my visit. I was also very happy to meet Eva and be able to talk to her in Japanese.

I went on a fjord tour whilst in Norway and I was most impressed by the way nature is conserved most beautifully over there.
Although I could see there was a vast difference between Anniken’s lifestyle on an island surrounded by nature, and my own lifestyle in the hustle bustle of a Japanese city, and I am now beginning to carefully reconsider those things we have in common and how our collaboration can grow out of this.

I'd like to express my deepest thanks to Anniken, Gabriella and all the people of Norway for such a wonderful trip.