Report KIDSDOOR × dear Me Get to Know How Artists Think, in English!

Get to know how artists and curators from abroad think, in English!

We started with introducing AIT’s activities with art in both English and Japanese, using the words that the participants may not be familiar with, such as ‘resident artist’ and ‘curator’. After Sara and Natalia introduced themselves, students sat around the table facing each other, and made a brief introduction one by one in English. And lastly Sara and Natalia showed slides to explain about their home countries, practices, and works.To explain about how her interest in art and crafts grew, the artist Sara talked about her roots – her family and childhood in Morocco. She talked about the Moroccan traditional handicraft carpet shop run by her father and the many sheep raised next to her house, with photos. Sara has been looking at the relationship between Morocco and Arab, and has been researching and making works about the letters (symbols) which has been used by the Moroccan tribes from ancient times even before Arabian culture was introduced as well as its origin. 

Works showing letters used by Moroccan tribes before the introduction of Arabian culture. The letters were drawn on papers made from pulped books written in Arabic.

She also introduced　a technique of Sashiko called Koginsashi, a traditional craft from Tsugaru region of Aomori prefecture – a part of her research in Japan. She talked about what she experienced in Tohoku region (North-Eastern part of Japan), the similarities between Japanese and Moroccan embroideries as she showed the actual Koginzashi from Aomori. Both were originally embroidered to cover the enlarged holes and rips in the work clothes made out of hemp, to provide warmth and fabric reinforcement, which was essential to endure severe cold winter. The techniques were born out of the ideas from everyday life, to accommodate the climate of the land. Though the countries and cultural backgrounds are different, Sara finds many similarities in the origins of traditional crafts, which are the result of using things with care over the time and incorporating creativities in everyday life.

Left: ‘Koginzashi’ from Aomori / Right: ‘Aizome’ (indigo dye) workshop from the research in Aomori

None of the students participated had been to Aomori, and many heard the word Koginzashi for the first time. Perhaps because of that, some held Koginzaashi and observed it with curiously. After this, Sara did a game of guessing the motif in the Koginzashi patterns. Looking closely, many motifs are hidden in the patterns – simplified animals, insects and plants. Students appeared nervous at first, but as the game progressed, they went to the volunteer staff next to them for help, and although they had difficulties understanding all the English vocabularies, they seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

On the other hand, the curator Natalia introduced her home country, Columbia, and led the discussion while showing the images of the works by famous contemporary artists in Columbia. Some students have been to museums from time to time, while some rarely visited. There seem to have been included rather provocative images among the artworks unfamiliar to them. During the discussion in English, the first impression of works were exchanged, and a wide range of topics came up such as why the artists had thought of expressing that way, the history of Columbia as the colony of Spain and its globalization, as well as expression of artists within the context of art history. Students were a little surprised with the works of contemporary art Natalia had introduced, and when asked about the criticism and message embodied in contemporary art, their views varied. One responded “I can relate to it and like the idea” and another said “I cannot understand it well”. They were shy at first to communicate their thoughts in English, however, they were drawn closer to the art pieces as they were led to identify which ones they liked and did not like, comparing the works of surrealism and contemporary art, as well as being questioned on why they felt such way. One student commented that it was difficult to express thoughts in words through this activity, and another expressed interest in learning more about contemporary art, thanks to this activity.

Text: Sara Yasunaga