The 10dence Saruya Artist in Residency - Japanese Elements 2022 at Saruya AIR at the base of Mount Fuji in Fujiyoshida - Yamanashi in Japan took place from September 12 till October 18 2022.
The 'Japanese Elements' residency concept for the artist in residence in September-October 2022 at Saruya AIR in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi in Japan, is a reflection and a perpetual dialogue, between abstraction and representation across histories and cultures at the core of their individual mixed media practices. The unifying theme within the 'Japanese Elements' concept is their investigations into the possibilities to transfer their impressions and experiences in Japan by means of contemporary painting. The development of new works during this residency, would strongly be inspired by Japanese heritage and culture in a wider perspective.
An additional conceptual aspect and value for this residency can be found within the Kintsugi and Wabi-Sabi philosophy. As a philosophy, kintsugi can be seen to have similarities to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, an embracing of the flawed or imperfect. Japanese aesthetics values markings of wear from using an object. This keeping of an object around even after it has broken and as a justification of kintsugi itself, highlighting the cracks and repairs as simply an event in the life of an object rather than allowing its service to end at the time of its damage or breakage. Wabi-sabi can be defined as the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of traditional Japanese beauty and it occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic values as do the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the far West. Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.
The following artists participated within the 2022 residency at Saruya AIR: Francis Beaty - USA, Larisa Sjoerds - the Netherlands, Susumu Ohira - Japan, Michael Vecellio - USA, Ron Weijers - the Netherlands and our special guest: Nobxhiro Santana - Japan.
Works created at Saruya in Fujuyoshida, Yamanashi during our artist in residency from September 15 till October 15, have been presented to the public at Saruya Residency - 3 Chome-28-8 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0004 Japan.
