I’ve done it, I’ve messed up the Newsletter numbering - it seems that the New York newsletter should have been #5 and not #4 … but I think we’re back on track now … HELLO!
I’m going to say something I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of over the last couple of weeks - I can’t believe it’s November already. I had a sudden panic that January 1st, the day I head off to Tokyo for a month, is fast approaching. The scary thing is it’s Christmas and then I go, and Christmas is always an extended period of time, and that really isn’t long away at all.
Thankfully my Tokyo trip, finally rebooked after a disappointing but inevitable cancellation in May 2020, is mostly planned thanks to google maps I made back in early 2020. But there’s still lots to do.
“What are you doing in Tokyo?” You ask.
Well, I’m doing an Art Residency with the folks at Almost Perfect, culminating in a 5-day gallery show at the end of January. Below is an image I stole from their website, illustrated by Luis Mendo (who runs the residency with Yuka Martin Mendo), of the old rice stop I get to live and work in for a month! - I’m staying in the Tatami room, the more traditional of the two rooms with a view of Tokyo streets.
Whilst I don’t want to reveal TOOOOO much about my project, I will say that I’m hoping to tell a story with my art pieces. I’m hoping to experiment with different styles, and do a mixture of digital and analogue pieces. I am also hoping to use my own exploration of Tokyo’s streets, food, people, markets, signs, logos, designs, EVERYTHING to inspire my story and artworks, and I’ll be taking my Canon camera along to document everything for reference.
My story is planned out to a certain extent so that when I arrive I can begin exploring and finding inspiration for specific moments to bring to life. I want to use my time there as best I can, and not spend the first week panicking about what my exhibition is suppose to be and say.
Books & Blogs
Recommended by my friend Lewis I recently bought Christy Anne Jone’s “A Year in Tokyo” to help with my planning. The thing I’m most excited about is the food: my google My Map is full of amazing food places, and I added a few things from Christy’s book just now. I’ve also have the Lonely Planet guide to Tokyo, but spent a lot of time in 2020 trawling blogs for recommendations.
I simply cannot wait to immerse myself in this beautiful city and Japanese culture, I’ve been dreaming of this since I was 16 years old. It’s a place I’ve always believed will have a profound effect on me, and will hopefully give me new perspectives on the world.
There’s also something quite challenging for me to leave my home, my boyfriend and my dog for a month, but a challenge I am going to fully embrace. There’s something so magical about pure “me time”, I love travelling alone but am also aware that I do get lonely and homesick. I am hoping to throw those sadder feelings into my artwork and use it to inspire me to explore deeper into Tokyo and make the most of every moment I have in this unique place.
I’m also scared about not knowing much of the language - though I have been trying to get into teaching myself Japanese on and off for the past 3 years, but never got far … maybe one day!
My boyfriend Matt will join me for my last week, to see my gallery show and get a little taster of Tokyo - we hope to return for a bigger trip to Japan together one day to explore more of the country.
My big hope is that I can create a small book/booklet/zine of the pieces and story I create whilst I’m there and sell it on my return - a bit like those art books you get in the gallery shop after you’ve been to an exhibition. So watch this space.
I also hope to share lots of my travel on my Instagram stories, but if I have time I might do a couple of newsletters whilst I’m there to share my experience : My instagram
Before I go I want to share this gorgeous film about Almost Perfect by Ryan Gasparini so you can fully comprehend how beautiful and mind-blowing my experience is going to be!
Have a wonderfully November,
Izzy x
Sounds like a dream experience!!! Can’t wait to see what you create