yuuco's tekuteku diary

Brrrr! It' s still cold out there, even it seems getting cold more and more. The new year has already begun and we finished one month, and now it's February! I hope you 're enjoying your begging of this year as well. :)
On last weekend, I went to see an interesting exhibition which held by two talented artist, Shingo Akiyama and Takaki Miyatake.










Akiyama on the right, Miyatake on the left.
Akiyama is a painter who paints the world between abstract and realistic. Miyatake is a woodwork artist who makes really warmful art works and furnitures. They exhibited collaboration of their works, Akiyama paints and Miyatake makes it into wooden picture. Their works were awesome, completely new style! I've seen Akiyama's so often, his works are improving and everytime I see his works I find something new. Miyatake also showed renewed vintage furnitures as his works which make people feel relax. Old things have own gentle mood that new things never have, his sense and technique proved it nicely.



Looks something like animals. When I asked, Akiyama said 'These are not certain animals nor insects. It's creatures live in my world, between abstract and realistic.'






Also, there are so many Akiyama's drawings and sketches were there. He had been drawing all the time while I was there! He is one of the most active young artists in Takamatsu and another BIG art project which he gets involved will be coming soon. I'm looking forward to it! They recruit volunteers and they said only one day or a few days is ok. I'm going to apply it and hopefully I can be any help of them.







Thess wooden picture style was the first try to collaborate for them and I guess any first step is always not so easy but their two style were totaly matched and perfectly succeeded! :)
I did enjoy seeing their works and talking to them, and what's more, they had a special live at this Gallery on the last day of the exhibition. Of course I went to see it and had a great time!! I'll introduce about it on the next post soon. :))  

タグ ：あきやましんごミヤタケタカキギャラリーマルアールTakamatsuart

Delayed Merry Christmas! How's your Christmas everyone? Did you get lots of presents? :) I'm sure you had a great time with your family and friends. For me, in fact things has been hectic (yes, now it's year-end!) and I had been working. Hmm, I'm very Japanese? But I didn't hate it at all because the work I was working on was this.





This is an art project for Christmas, 'Christmas in my town'. 7 local artists displayed their works on closed store's shutters. We don't paint or make such 'BIG' works always, so it was great try and did enjoy it. :) I hope lots of people see this and enjoy it too. :) In Takamatsu shopping arcade area, many young artists are doing their art like this. They plan art event and work it out themselves. Sometimes artists are invited from out of our town. Another big art project is going to be held in next early spring. It's held in this shopping arcade area for 1 month or so. Lots of artists will participate it and they spark our town! I'll mention about it in the near future. :)





After I finished my work, I went to my favourite sweets shop and found so cute sweets! Can you see this? (Sorry, my photo is not good. ;() At first when I found these, I couldn't believe these were sweets! These are both all made of bean jam. The nearest one is Christmas tree which has a little star on the top. The white bean jam formed just like fluffy yarn makes it looks real craft Christmas tree! Another one is, as you see 'Camellia' dappled with pink and white. The center of that is made very details. I can't imagine how did they do that but they even put pollen on the pistil faithfully. Too pretty to eat! (I ate all tho. ;p) These kinds of sweets makes our eyes and hearts enjoy and relaxed. I want our work do the same to the people. :)

Have a happy holiday season everyone, wish you a lovely new year, too!









  

"A fabulous moving cafe with a portable kiln, where you can drink a cup of tea with a cup just made from the kiln." by Toshiro Jinjin Kimura

Takamatsu, where I live has lots of art events so often and I just stumbled an interesting tea ceremony at the arcade in the middle of the city last week. As he says like above his style is really unique that he brings a kiln with two-wheeled cart from town to town to serve tea for the people. Although his style is a kind of "Nodate", an out door tea ceremony casual style, the significant of the way of tea "entertain the guests" always lies here. Can you see his costume? It's a custom-made special dress for this event made by Yuko Tobo, a talented leather bag artist in Japan. Jinjin is over 180cm talls so he needs special dress for this and what's more, he's wearing heels. Who can say he's not a entertainer!? And what unique the most is that you can make your original cup by yourself! So how can you make your tea cup if you haven't done pottery? It seems to take a long time? No need to worry, the cups already biscuit-fired are ready so all you need to do is just paint it with colourful graze.



Concentrating...! It's a lot of fun!



Then Jinjin fire it! It takes about 1hour or so to be finished. It's a nice time to wait chatting with friends.



Cooling it down carefully...



How's this? Great, isn't it!



He serves tea himself for you. I'm sure the tea with your original cup tastes very special. You can also enjoy just drinking tea without making a cup. :)







He is going around all over Japan to have tea ceremony now. If you are in Japan, check it and come to see him! :)



  

So October is upon us and November is just a few days away. The sun ray is softer, weather is mild, it's the best season for creating and learning! I already have some on my to-do-list. For examlpe, reading, drawing, practice English, hang out to take photos, go to see arts to the islands of Seto Inland Sea... mmm so(too?) many anyway! My friend, who is a traditional craft artist and well know about me(like this) invited me to her job site of indigo dye on the other day.



She is an artisan of Sanuki Kagari Temari as I wrote before, and dyes all the threads herself with natural materials. This time she tried Japanese traditional indigo dye called "Ai-zome 藍染" at a special studio for that.　Ai-zome is one of very popular ways of Japanese traditional dying. Tokushima prefecture where is next to Kagawa is famouse for that. The blue made by indigo dye called "Japan blue" is just brilliant, the colour is clear, deep, yet really soft. There is no wonder that Japan blue attracts so many people since days of the past.

At first, put the thread into the dye and move it evenly for about 3 mins in order to it will be well-stained.






Next, rinse it very well through the water.



And dry it. It may seem very simple but actually the whole process is quite a big job.



This is silk. How beautiful!




Once your fingers caught the dye, it's very hard to remove it at least for one week.




"Ai 藍" is a kind of plants and they plant it on their own field. Now you can see the cute pink flowers in this season.







This studio is in a facility for the mentally retarded called "Moegi no Sato もえぎの里" in Mure town, Takamatsu. If you are interested you can experience it here, so why don't you try it, there is no time to waste in this great season! Map is here.





  

The days are getting shorter, the wind is getting chiller, I can't help feeling Autumn's arrival. We have lots of festivals in autumn to thank god for the harvest and our lives in peace. We entertain the god which enshrined in the shrine by showing lion dance with traditional music. Kozai, the place I had lived when I was little has a shrine which is famous for lots of lion dances at the festival. Usahachiman shrine is located at the center of the town, not so big but the air there is sacred, awesome and definitely different from others'. In the day time, birds and insects are always singing there though yet surrounded by a great calmness.





So many lions show up and dance wildly.









Lion mask! It's said that they drive away the ill luck of the year.





Kozai is located by the sea and a town of fishermen. So they also use big ship to bring the god. This is once-yearly 'God's walk'.





'祭', means 'festival'.





This festival is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of October everyear (3th and 4th October this year). Many stands will also be set up so you can enjoy this event in the daytime, too though I strongly recommend visiting here at night. A numbers of lanterns are floating in the dark, beats of drums and gongs are ringing, wild dances of lions... such an extraordinary mood! it will not be able to be judged if it's a dream or reality. It's really a mysterious world.

Torii-gate made of stone. Very big!














  

Dream or reality? This is Stone Lantern Road in Mure-cho. Mure-cho and the next Aji-cho are famous as town of stone. Especially Aji stone taken from mountains in this area is well-known because of the beautifulness. This event is one of activities in order to revitalize the town, they display stone lanterns in front of their houses in a certain area in Mure-cho during summer(8/1~9/23). It makes the atmosphere truly magical and mysterious, I felt like I wandered into another land!




There are so many unique lanterns original designed by each family and local stone company. These lanterns are very interesting. The nearest one is shaped like spring, of course made by stone! And can you see a red line in the middle of back one? It expresses a strong straight line which can overcome difficulty, they said. It's nice to know stories like this behind the works.




Cute!




Wooow, I want one in my house!




During the period, various shows are also staged to energize people. They are haveing a salsa show on the day I visited there. Really exciting!




She so cool!




I found this, special sweets 'stone lantern jelly'. This is yummy fruit jelly and what interesting is the box. It looks like a real stone, doesn't it??




On the same day, I also enjoyed great Japanese dishes at elegant restaurant 'Den' close to here. They have special menu in time for this event. Highly recommended!


  

These are Sakiori bags from Akiko Iwamoto. Sakiori is a Japanese textile craft which is woven cloth made by used cloth. "Saki" means split and "Ori" is weaving. In Japan, we have a thought that we shouldn't wast things since early times. So people in the old days recycled used cloth making things like bags, rugs and cushion covers not to wast it.





Akiko Iwamoto is an up-and-coming Sakiori artist who lives in Takamatsu. The distinctive feature of her works is it's various of beautiful colour combination. I feel joy and fun from her works! How about you? ;) These are key holders.




Sakiori bags. Very strong yet light. :)




Sakiori seat cover. I want to display it rather than sit on it. ;)




There are so many strings, cloth balls here and there in her studio.








Her major is weaving but now she colours cotton cloth herself for creation. So her possibility of colours is unlimited!




She also uses cute cloth like these not only used cloth. :)




Hmm? Where is she? :) I really like "Artist's studio". As you see, she works surrounded by mountains of materials, but the atmosphere was not busy at all. I can even say it's very cozy. :) I think it's may be because she talks to and spends times with them everyday just like friends do and breathes life into them.




As I talking to her, I found a little piece of note on the wall saying "To create, is to live(つくることは暮らすこと)". Just a simple phrase but it does explain her style.




When I visited there, she was just working on some Kimono clothes using silk. (Not Sakiori.)




Feet have important part, too!




Silk cloth for Kimono woven by her. I wish I could express the real smooth texture and the pop pretty colour in my photo!




Her partner.








This is screen printing work. She is not only in one category of Sakiori but tries any kind of textile related arts. This is what making her talent improve and why her works always have new impression although it's a traditional craft.








This is interesting! Looks contemporary art or something? What do you think is this? This is strings which came out when the clothes split. Those are stuffed in the dolls instead of cotton. She never wasts materials. It tells how she loves her things. :)




She has exhibitions regularly and it's a bit away though she'll have a group exhibition in Chiba pref in this November. This is an event called "Koubou karano kaze(工房からの風)" means "The wind from studios" which is only selected pro craft artists can attend. It's held in the garden of an chic gallery Rafuto(らふと), many kinds of craft artists(textile, wood craft, pottery, glass, paper, metal works, etc) will come along under one roof sky from all over Japan. As the title says I'm sure they'll bring us nice breeze from their studios. :) If you'd like to get more information, please click here(Japanese only).

  

I went to Megi island to join "Curry buttle" on 2nd August. Megi island(map) is the closest island from Takamatsu, it takes 16mins by ship from Takamatsu port and oneway costs only 100yen during summer (7/18 ～9/30). So now it's a great chance to visit there freely and take a little excursion once in a while when you take a walk. :) 　
This event was held at a beach close to the port. 14 teams participated as challengers and over 300(!) people came to taste curry! It was a great fun! So many people, aren't they!?




It was so hot but such a nice day! Cheers for summer! (Admiring a great view of Yashima on the back.）




The beach was already crowded with lots of beachgoers.




It's nice to have meals outside.




Cute couple. :) They had shaved ice, too.




They are from Osaka! Welcome to Kagawa!




Making Takoyaki! They turn Takoyaki on the special pan quickly with a tool like a big needle to make them balls. Mmm... professional!





A little chef.　Little, but sure-cook! ;)




Challenger from Hawaii! No, they were from Takamatsu. ;p






We could taste curries even all! I think I tried most of all... ;p What surprised me was that the 14 teams had each own taste, and of course, each team's is so great. Some of them had really unique style, they used something interesting instead of rice . For example, they used Yakisoba(Japanese fried noodle), Somen(Japanese boiled thin noodle), and Takoyaki for the rice part. I tried Yakisoba one, and was really good! That was the moment India met Japan on Megi... Why I didn't find this way even though I've lived in Japan for a long time and both are my favourite meals! OK, I'll make this at home in this weekend anyway. :) Here are the unique curries. This is fried noodle curry!




Rice ball curry! I didn't try this though must be yum! :)




Takoyaki curry. Who found this great way!?




We could order 3 dishes of curries with one ticket, and those'll be votes directly. I chose "Marther's simple home made curry" for the second. It tastes really... mom's home made! After a number of elaborate curries, it made my tongue to be relieved, and made me smile. :) Also their herb butter and vegetable pickles on the side made it not "just a simple" curry. Then I was getting full so shared the 3rd "Peach curry" with my friend.




While the votes were counting, we had other fun shows on the beach like Hula dance show and some live shows. Not only my stomach but my heart got full. :)




He is the winner of this year!! Congratulations!! Their curry was "Black Keema curry". I tried a spoon of it, they used squid ink and was really very black and spicy! We, both challengers and galleries really enjoyed this nice event. I'm sure I'll be here again next year! :))




On just the same day, there was an interesting traditional festival there. I felt like to take a closer look at it and this island. Megi island is called "Oniga shima" means "Demon's island" and there is an old legend which is very populer in Japan. I think I'll come here again and write about it sometime soon. :))  

Wow, what a cute illustration! I really like this impromptu style. Ikecoo, she is an illustrator who lives in Higashikagawa, East of Kagawa. She is having her solo exhibition at gallery "Maru R" at Kitahama Alley now(till on 10th August）. When I steped into the gallery, I felt wandering in a toy box! Her paintings are cheerful, colourful and full of energy! She's been there for almost all days during the show, I could talk to her. She is very friendly and I felt her passion for drawing and how she loves drawing from her words. It's said that the art works are the artist themselves, it's definitely true.






She said that she wants to make people cheer up with her paintings. I think they certainly do! She can't even stop drawing! She's been drawing and painting while she is at the gallery. And she asks people to draw or write something on the paper covered table. She just wants to enjoy, drawing. The whole room is a canvas for her, even the wall. You'll be surprised by the power.






Her paintings are still growing...!






There are some doors here and there, even on the floor. What are these for? The only people who visit here can know the secret. So let's go to unveil it! ;)






I found a little drawing in a candy box. :) Playing hide and seek?


  

If you live in Takamatsu, may be you'll see where it is at first sight. :) Yes, this is Kitahama. Very popular place that has many fancy shops like boutique, cafe, bar, variety shops in one place. They use old warehouses as-is and that creates a magical atmosphere especially at night. :)






A bit away from shopping mall, very front of the sea. The breeze from the sea is so nice. :) It's a good place to stroll, chill out with friends. Sometimes I come here alone when I want to take a breath from my busy days and be into myself.






They also have some galleries. This is one of them, gallery Maru R next to a cozy cafe "Umie".






Naja, they deal with accessories, kitchen tools, and various of sweet girly items.






Cool bar, "Cantina". The tower far behind is Takamatsu Symbol Tower, Sun Port.






Jewel box on the sea... there is a harbor near by, liner ships come and go. I wish I could be here all the day seeing this if the time allow me...
















  

Can you see two little gold fish are floating in the jelly? This is not a candle nor a soap, this is Japanese traditional sweets for summer. The name is "Kingyo" means gold fish in Japanese. I couldn't take my eyes off when I found this because it's SO pretty! We have many kinds of seasonal traditional sweets. Kanten jelly which is made of sea weed is a very popular one for summer. This kind of detailed sweets are used at tea ceremony mainly so they express the seasons in the sweets. (Of course we eat it at usual tea time, too :)) I do love to see the colour, design, and the beautiful details. Yet it tastes really good! It's absolutely an art, I think! But as these are seasonal sweets, it's available for only short time. ;(



It's interesting to know what is each part made of. The water part is made of Kanten which is sea weed. The colourful red and light green stones are both beans and white ones are rice cake. Pebbles around those are sesames. Too cute to eat, really!



This is another cute sweets which caught my eyes. This sweets expresses fireflies on the grass.



I was really impressed by the idea. They put a black sesame on a tiny ball of yellow bean jam to express the light of firefly. Really poetic and it's just like a small garden in my hand! :)
There are so many others at the shops and choosing sweets is a lot of fun. They always let me notice transition from one season to the next. :)

I found these at this sweets shop. This shop is famous for "Ichigo daifuku", a rice cake a strawberry covered with bean jam inside. The strawberry is very big as much as kid's fist! Ichigo daifuku is limited time sweets during spring and winter though they have "Budo daifuku"(grape inside) and "Sumomo daifuku"(Japanese plum inside) instead in this season. Those are very juicy and pretty yummy as well, special recommended!
  

Today I went to Masayuki Nagare's studio. He had open studio to the public today and I was there as a staff. He is a world famous Japanese stone sculptor, I knew about him and he lives in Kagawa though I had never been to there. His studio was VERY big like a castle or an art museum! He opens his studio to the public only twice a year(cause here is also his home). Luckily, my friend asked me to help her so I could visit there. That was great experience for me. Thank you so much Moaron-san!





There were so many works in the garden and inside the house. Almost of works outside were bigger than a person. All were so great! Although those were made of stone, the smooth surface made them look like those were not stones. It was cloudy today but on the sunny day, the black stone works look blue reflecting the sky they said. I wonder if it looks as if those are made of water. I just imagined it in my mind. Blue sculptures on the grass in the garden, blue sky and spread sea on the back. It reminds me of "Laputa" in "Castle in the sky". That must be so beautiful! I hope to see it oneday! Inside the house, not only the art works but also there were lots of interesting collections like antiques.





The studio is in Aji-cho, East side of the center of the city. Surrounded by lots of nature, mountains on the back and great view of the sea at the front. I was so impressed by the picture like panoramic scenery! There is no wonder why great artists choose here to live and create art works. Another world famous artist, Isamu Noguchi's studio is close to here, too. I'm proud of my town. :)












Nagare studio is not always opened but there are some interesting places so it's worth to explor in this town. Furniture designer, Geoge Nakashima memorial gallery, Teeth museum, and Stone museum are near here and you can see beautiful sea all around. :)
  

Early evening
Cool nice breeze
The moon is in the East
And the sun is in the West

I went walking with my dog after a long while.
Walked a lot with her in the spread green carpet of rice field.
Sweet scents of summer, chorus of cicadas and frogs.
Those are very usual but always make me feel relax.
My town is located at local country side.
There may be nothing so special like a big city here but precious things that the big cities can never have.
This is 'why and what' I love my town. :)


  

What do you guess is this cute colourful ball? This is traditional Japanese craft "Kagari temari". Temari was ball toy for kids in the days of old,　now it became ornament because of it's beautifulness. Each local area has it's own "Tameri" all over Japan, this is made in Kagawa so it's called "Sanuki kagari temari".　These are made by Eiko Araki, an artisan of Sanuki Kagari Temari. The only craftsman, like her, who has over 20 years of the experience can be called "Traditional Craft's Expert".





The character of Sanuki Kagari Temari is the colourful strings used on it. The cotton strings which is one of The Three White Things of Kagawa coloured with plants are really idyllic and gentle soft colour by using natural materials.
Preparing lavender here. Lavender becomes yellow.





Coloured strings. The sign says "Sanuki", the name of Kagawa in the past.





All the process is done by hand. They reel strings on the ball one by one forming fine patterns. It's absolutely a technical and proffessional world!





These are the base parts before ornamentation. So cute enough!





These are straps for mobiles and have perfume of incense. It's nice to feel traditions in daily life with the way like this. :) Made by Eiko Araki. Of course these are made by hand. Unbelievable details!





Needle bed. Sweet, isn't it? Why the tools for nice stuff are always nice? This is also made by needle bed craftsman. :)



  

Do you know this unique gallery cafe, "Pussy-pussy-na"? This cafe is located at calm residental area close to Nishi-nishi. I always drop by this cafe after enjoying arts there. They have various of coffee beans which are from all over the world. They grind and roast coffee beans by themselves, the coffee aroma will take you inside the house very easily. :)



As here is gallery cafe, they hold arranged exhibitions so often. I visited them today actually, they were having an exhibition of Takuya Kamiike who is a stage art artist (till on 27th). You'll see lots of beautiful paintings on the wall. I sometimes feel like as if I'm at home because of the comfy atmosphere!



They also have so many coffee related goods. If you are going to pour coffee yourself at home why don't you ask them advice? (You can purchase coffee beans, too! :))



The owner of this cafe. She is an artist, too. They are familiar with arts and events in and around Kagawa. I'm sure you'll get something new if you come here. :) Here is the map.



What I got this time is about "Curry battle on Megi island" on Augst 2nd. Megi island is one of the islands of Seto inland sea. It's an event to determine the king of curry! :D Challengers make curries and you give a vote to the best team! Pussy-pussy-na is the winner of last year's. You'll see the big trophy at the entrance. They say there are lots of other fun events at the same time. Why don't you join them to give a vote and watch where the trophy goes this year!

  

Today I write about my petitt trip to Kochi. In Japan, the expressway toll was cut lately. If your car has an ETC and it's Saturday or Sunday, you can go anywhere at flat rate.(one way costs only 1000yen!) Of course I went to Kochi on weekend through expressway. ;)
First, I'll show you Japan map. (I think you already know though) Japan consists of four main lands.



Kagawa is on an island called Shikoku. Shikoku has four prefectures, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi. To Kochi, it takes one and a half hour by car from Takamatsu through expressway.



The day I visited there was a really nice sunny, breezy day. It was such a great drive to there. :) Kochi faces to the Pacific Ocean and the weather is a little exotic like a southern land. We could see palm trees here and there in the center of the city as we walked around.



We had Japanese soba noodle for lunch at a fancy restaurant 'pool'. The lunch set was really healthy!



Then we went to gallery M2 to see Yoko Inoue's works. She is a collage artist who makes things like books, boxs look antique. Her works are just amazing. At first, I couldn't even imagine how she made it.



We also went to 7days hotel plus . This hotel itself is so stylish and it's hard to think it's a business hotel. The interiors of this hotel is collaborated with a great etching artist Makoto Matsubayashi. (Yes, again him! I told you I'm a huge fan of him!;)). They use the space of escape steps as an art gallery. His amazing paintings(big!) are put on the wall of each floor's landing. This place is a MUST place to visit! ;) Of course you can see his works without staying here. Also you can see his works in each room when you stay at this hotel. :)

I really enjoyed this small trip but I still have lots of places want to visit! I want to go to Kochi every week. :))
  

'Nishi-nishi' is one of my favourite galleries in Takamatsu.
This is an old Japanese house and they reformed a part of the house as a gallery.　They have exhibitions regularly and every show is really fascinating!






This is gallery space. When I visited there the other day, they had an exhibition of one of the most greatest Japanese etching artists, Makoto Matsubayashi. Personally, I'm a huge fan of him! :)






They also have some fancy goods like antique blouse, hand made crafts, accesorries, and sometimes pottery, etc. All the owner's choice is deeply rooted in comfortable life. Those items nicely come in to our eyes and hearts as well. :)






Unique crafts by a textile artist, Akiko Iwamoto.
These items are available only here.
　





Reflecting the owner's personality, the room is fill with warm, gentle air as you can see. I always enjoy talking to her and forget the time passes. :)
Map is here