JOURNALS

It is 2 months since I returned from Norway - the time passed in a flurry of activity as I prepared for my own solo exhibition and November was here before I knew it.

For this current exhibition, I have used a technique which is completely different from any I have used before; through the use of ink jet printing and mirrors I have tried to express the contradictions of contemporary consumer society.

As always when I show a new body of work, I was worried and nervous at trying out new things but being able to show them first of all to Lesley and her husband as well as Anniken gave me encouragement as the opening approached.

I am going to make our collaboration piece using this same technique together with Anniken’s work. Anniken brought some things that she had already made and we were able to put them together experimentally at the Oyamazaki Sanso Museum which Keiko Kawashima arranged for us.
Using the theme of “green” for the collaboration, we decided to pick out and show various surfaces with that colour.

Anniken and Machiko working on a test installation

Also, as we were talking we came up with an idea; we decided to add sound to the exhibits to go with the glasshouse that we are going to construct. We thought that the sound of running water would be good. Mr. and Mrs. Yuge with whom Anniken was staying suggested we go to Shisendo Temple to find water sounds. We managed to find the sound of water which was close to what we were thinking of, however, it was the autumn leaf viewing season when we were there and there were a lot of tourists. We agreed that I should go there again in a quieter season to make a recording.

Anniken’s visit this time was very short, just one week, but she was very well and we were achieved a lot. The collaboration and our individual works are not yet complete, and we still have the recording to do but I am working hard to get everything done.

As always, I am very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Yuge who looked after Anniken so kindly in the heart of their family.