Japan Residency 2011

Liz was Fellowship Artist in Residence at the Akiyoshidai International Art Village in Southern Japan between August and September 2011.

Akiyoshidai International Art Village has supported cultural and philosophical exchange among international artists through an artists in residence program since its inauguration in 1998. The centre is nestled in the mountains, a short journey from Yamaguchi in Southern Japan. The aim of the Residence Support Program is to support young artists' experimental creative activities, crossing the borders of art disciplines and nationalities. Artists are carefully chosen by the Selection Committee of the Residence Program of Akiyoshidai International Art Village, and competition for places is high. For the annual AIAV Trans Residency more than 400 artists apply for just three places.

‘It is impossible to condense the feelings from this experience. It has been a challenging journey, both to physically get to Japan - but moreover a psychological challenge, a spiritual journey, awe inspiring. I worked so hard to get there, months of applications, failed funding, disappointment, then finally the offer of time at AIAV. There was panic in the first weeks fuelled with the pressure I had put on myself to ‘make work’ and achieve, aligned with sudden rural life in complete solitude, and epic stunning architecture at the centre nestled in the mountains – this combination was hugely challenging.

Subtle elements of Japan have imbued new creative processes. From the unique geography of Akiyoshidai including the largest cave in Japan and a 10 million year old Karst Plateau, to the presence of the elements through storms and heat, the bamboo, lush colours, Kanji calligraphy in black ink, to the red of the O-Torri gate in Miyajima, stones, insects, storks, the islands of Japan scattered across seas in the view from the plane.
The frequencies of the emotional scale register loudly in the work made.' (Liz Atkin, Sept 2011)