Jesse Wine report

1）Objectives/areas of interest

I was invited to come to Japan by AIT and their partner in London, Camden Arts Centre (CAC). In 2014 I was the CAC ceramics fellow and part of the proposal was to investigate and possibility visit Japan and the rich ceramic history that exists across the country. Alongside my interest in ceramics I also take a great interest in Japanese Zen gardens, food and ways of communicating in comparison to the way in which we communicate in Europe. I have been fascinated by Japan since reading Junichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows and also, I am a Haruki Murakami fan, an author who describes areas of Tokyo repeatedly in his novels. In 2012 I made a display for an exhibition at Limoncello Gallery, London in which I transformed the space into a zen garden, surrounded by a boardwalk based on the Ryoan-Ji gardens in Kyoto. Ultimately, my visit to Japan was in order to become a better artist, to improve my knowledge of this culture and to learn to communicate new ideas through my art on my return.

2）Activities during your stay

For the most part my stay in Japan was spent doing research, understanding tradition, writing, taking photographs and travelling. I visited many museums that focused on ancient tradition in Japan, learning about the Edo period and how this country was not until very recently introduced to Western culture. My favourite museum in Tokyo was the Fukagawa Edo museum, in which one can walk down a reconstructed street from Tokyo 1840, furthermore one can touch everything and walk in the houses, climb stairs and so on. Completely fascinating and such a generous way of describing the history of Tokyo.

I spent two weeks working in a ceramics studio in Shinjuku, which I must say in relation to ceramic production is a truly androgynous neighbourhood! Shinjuku is famed for it's bright lights and noise and not for making ceramics, this area provided a brilliant backdrop for making, coming from the gnarly street up to the quiet studio was quite a remarkable difference and made for some interesting thought processes and ultimately some work I was very proud of.

I also took part in a day long event at SHIBAURA HOUSE in Tokyo, delivering a short presentation and being part of a panel discussion about the development of ceramics in contemporary art, where it is located, how it is developing and possible places it will go. The event was organised by CAC curator Gina Buenfeld and was a real success, encompassing sculpture, performance, talks and film. The dedicated audience made for a wonderfully engaged atmosphere and intelligent conversation around the works on display.

3）Travelling

I had one incredible week travelling in Japan the highlights of which were in Koyasan home of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism in the snow covered mountains with sub-zero temperatures. Koyasan was quite incredible, operating on a very different schedule to Tokyo I visited monks chanting at 6am in the main temple. And in Naoshima and Teshima, home to some amazing contemporary works of art displayed in exquisite fashion.

Snowy footsteps in Koyasan

4）Outcomes from your residency

The outcomes of my visit are as of yet slightly unknown. What I do know is that being in Japan made me a much more organised, patient human. Operating in small living quarters and in a city that is home to so many humans introduced me to a new way of thinking and existing, since my return to London and the studio I have employed this in the fabrication of new art, making larger ceramic works made up of smaller, modular elements. My first solo exhibition since returning will be in London in July 2015, in this exhibition I will see the influence of being in Japan emerge in my production and method of display.

Tree in Nara

YOLO (You Only Live Once) cap on Shinkansen traveller

Beautiful Issey Miyake building in Tokyo

Wall sculpture/ relief in Kyoto