A release of an archival video 'Migration' by Fight with A Stick from 2022

 

This is an archival video of the multimedia performance produced by Fight With a Stick in 2022. 

It was truly inspirational to work with amazing people. 

FYI I paste the caption I posted in the beginning of the project. A few more performers joined. All names are in the video. 

Please take a look! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLshVB0em7shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLshVB0em7s

着想から2年余りパンデミック中にプロデュースされ2022年にヴァンクーバーでは公演されたファイト・ウィズ・ア・スティックによる「マイグレーション」のヴィデオが最近完成しました。拙作の「Eyes Water Fire」から想を得てプロデュースされたものです。ディレクターのアレックスの演出はじめ、パフォーマー、音響、ライティング、舞台装置、装飾全ての分野において素晴らしいアーティスト達と一緒に創り上げた体験が素晴らしい物でした。
ご高覧くださると幸いです。

Thank you to Alexander Lazaridis for completing and sharing this video clip. 

I hope we can show this somewhere again 🙂 

 “A collaborative project between Fight With a Stick Hybrid Performing Sociery and myself has been in progress during the pandemic time. 

Zoom meetings, solo studio productions in two locations and two workshop with a few people so far at Western Front.  

This performance is based on my video 'Eyes Water Fire' which expresses human dignity and compassionate empathy.  Fire. Butter lamps of prayers. Walking to cross the border to the safe land.  

Alex Ferugson, an artistic director of Fight With a Stick, saw the video and offered me to collaborate to make something together. 

It has been such a pleasure to work with him, Delia Brett ( one of main performers), James Maxwell ( Sound), Sooyeon Goo ( studio production ) and Taiga Chiba( Studio production).  More performers will join and I look forward to seeing what comes out from our visual, physical and inner contemplation. 

Due to the pandemic restriction,  there is no clear time line when we can show case in public...please follow a FB page of Fight With a Stick...or I will up date. 

All images' copyright belongs to otter and Fight With a Stick.”
Sent from my iPhone

https://www.fightwithastick.ca/resources

Report: Two solo exhibitions at LAMO, Leh, Ladakh

 The exhibitions were on display from October 11 to October 31 2024.

Please refer the caption pasted below and view the installation shots:

_____________________________________________________________

Hello friends: 

Kenji Najima and I will have two separate presentations at Ladakh Arts and Media Organization(LAMO) in Leh, Ladakh, India. 

——————————-

Kenji Najima will show a set of his woodblock prints and a body of new works that he created while his stay in Shakti Village. There he stayed with a local family and went to Takthok Monastery daily to meditate. 

His new works will be as a result of the experience, a contemplation of human life. 

Tomoyo Ihaya will show a set of old works created while her 18 visits to this vision, mixed media works that were shown in Japan and Taiwan, and a new body of drawings of the portraits of her close female friends. 

In addition to each works, a set of collaborative works will be shown too. 

Please read each artist’s shirt description on the Evite attached. 

If you are in Leh, please do come to the opening 🙏🏼

We would like to express our gratitude to Director Monisha Ahmad ji, and everyone at LAMO for their heartfelt supports 🙏🏼

この度　ラダックのレーにあるラダック・アート•アンド・メディア・オルガニゼーション(LAMO)で、同郷の作家さんの名嶋憲児さんと、

それぞれ個展を同時開催させていただくことになりました。

名嶋さんは2019年にラモで木版画を教えてから2回目の訪問です。そのワークショップが大変好評でウェルカム・カムバックです。わたしはしつこく通って18回目の訪問👀、個展は10年ぶりです。

名嶋さんは、1998から2000年頃に制作した木版画とともに、九月にシャクティ村で制作したミックスト・メディアの新作を展示します。

滞在中は村の家族のところにホームステイしながら毎日近くのお寺で瞑想しながら制作しました。

人が生きることについての探索がテーマです。

私は18回の滞在中、後に制作した絵、近年、韓国、台湾、日本で展示したミックスト・メディアの作品とともに、今回制作した(終わってません)親愛なる女性たちの肖像画を展示します。

命や水、自然の循環、棲むということが制作のテーマです。

また個々の作品の加えて、2022から2024に制作した共同制作作品も展示します。

十二日がオープニングです。

お世話になっているLAMO のディレクター　モニーシャ・アハマッドさん並び、スタッフの方に

お礼を申し上げます。

                       The first three images: Installation shots "Mi Tse" Kenji Najima

The last three images: Installation shots 'Habitats' by Tomoyo Ihaya

Drawings on view at Art Beatus in Vancouver till the end of December

                                                                         “People Homeland”

                                                                             Tomoyo Ihaya 

                                                                  @Art Beatus Consultancy Ltd

                                                                            604-688-2633

                                                                    https://g.co/kgs/bX1wSS2

A dozen of drawings from 2012-2013 are on view at Art Beatus Art Consultant till the end of this year. 

Some of you may have seen them elsewhere but if you have not and would like to see them, please drop by. 

Those are a body of drawings shown at Walter Phillips Art Gallery in Banff last year and at Kamloops Art Gallery in 2022. 

The whole series have over 200 drawing which you can view here( please see older posts): http://tomoyoihaya.blogspot.com/

Note:

I recommend to phone  or email in advance to make sure the door is open especially towards the holiday season. 

For Children

For Children                                                                   copyright: tomoyo ihaya 2024

"If I must die"

Refaat Alareer

If I must die,

You must live

to tell my story

to sell my things

to buy a piece of cloth

and some strings,

(make it white with a long tail)

so that a child, somewhere in Gaza

while looking heaven in the eye

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze-

and bid no one farewell

not even to his flesh

not even to himself-

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above

and thinks for a moment an angel is there 

bringing back love

If I must die

let it bring hope 

let it be a tale

Reference:

https://inthesetimes.com/article/refaat-alareer-israeli-occupation-palestine

 

Report: 巡る道 久居アルスプラザ Paths That Go Around @Hirsai Ars Arts Plaza

The exhibition 'Paths That Go Around' By Kenji Najima and Tomoyo Ihaya took place at Hisai ARS Plaza from April 6th to April 14th, 2024.  

Please read attached statements below.

During 8 day exhibition, so many visitors came from hometown, other prefectures, and abroad such as Canada, Taiwan and Nepal. It was a special event for both of us. 

ARS Plaza kindly provided us a set of installation shots taken by Mr. Yutaka Matsubara recently, so I would like to share some here.  

去る２０２４年４月６日から１４日まで、三重県津市久居の久居アルスプラザで「巡る道ーアルスの風装画作家展；名嶋憲児・井早智代」が開催されました。

詳細は下記の添付した小文をお読みください。

８日間の会期の間に遠方からも地元からもたくさんの方に来ていただき、心に残る機会となりました。

アルスプラザの担当の方から写真家松原豊さんによる画像を送っていただいたので、ここで数点シェアします（一部の写真はクロップしてあります）。

    

Statement:

The exhibition ‘Paths That Go Around’ by Kenji Najima and Tomoyo Ihaya takes place at Hisai ARS Plaza from April 6th to April 14th, 2024. 

 

The exhibition will feature collaborative and individual artist works done over the the past two years as well as new works on paper made by both artists in Inomachi, Kochi Prefecture last November. The paper, some experimental and other authentic, were produced under the generous and gifted guidance of the papermaking master, Mr. Ryoji Tamura.

 

Both artists have lived and produced art works in many different locations for nearly three decades.Their paths as artists were never straight, often off road, but gradually they returned to the core question, “how should we and why do we live to make art”, hence, the exhibition’s subtitled ‘Paths That Go Around’. They hope visitors will have an unique interaction with each art work for the work represents a rich accumulation of their past experiences, life passages and contemplation.

________________________________________________________________________ 

 

We may not be aware, but

We always are standing on a path

This path is nature full of wonders

Also we are the path itself, being born after many miracles

In the midst of that is the daily life

My expression is contemplation with beauty of life

 

-Kenji Najima

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

 

I’ve been on many of journeys, and have been making artwork for 30 years.

In India, where I travelled the most, I made friends with many Tibetan and Ladakhi people. 

Tibetan and Ladakhi people walk around temples and Buddhist pagodas, almost every day, chanting mantras so the world will overflow with peace and compassion. As I walked with them, thoughts of the cycle of life and death and its continuum accompanied the act.

 

The works on display are made while thinking of friends, of the places I inhabited, as

well as the countless people I have not met, both near and far. I drew their faces and their lands because their way of life greatly influenced my way of life and the making of art. 

They have lived unbearably hard lives however they transform their hardships into empathy, compassion, and a strong spirit; they stand with their feet well grounded to the earth.

 

 

-Tomoyo Ihaya

「巡るみち」に寄せて

この度「アルスの風」の挿画を２０２２年の夏号、秋号と連続して掲載していただいたご縁で、「久居アルスプラザ」のギャラリーで二人展を開催させていただくことになりました。

展示ではそれぞれの作品の他、２年ほど取り組んできた共同制作の作品を展示します。また昨年11月、 長年お世話になっている紙漉き職人の田村亮二さんのご指導のもと、高知県のいの町でそれぞれが漉いた紙を使った新作も発表いたします。

 

それぞれが違う場所で、早３０年余り、制作しながら探求してきた「生きる」という道、その積み重ねである道はまっすぐでなく巡り巡って原点に回帰するという意味を込めて「巡る道」としました。

 

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

 

私たちは知らず知らずのうちに
巡る道に立っています
この道は不思議に満ちた自然であり
奇跡の重なりで生まれた私たち自身でもあります
その渦中である日常と
生きているうつくしさを見つめました

 

名嶋憲児

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

 

旅を重ねながら制作を続けて、気づけば３０年になりました。

 

一番旅したインドではたくさんのチベットとラダックの人たちと友達になりました。彼らは毎日のようにお寺や仏塔の周りをこの世の中が慈悲で溢れるようにマントラを唱えながら右回りに巡ります。ご老体たちと共に歩いているうちに生と死の循環、心の永続性をこの行為に重ねるようになりました。

 

今回展示してある作品は旅し棲息した土地の友人たちとその地の歴史を、また数えきれぬ命を思って作ったものです。彼らと彼らの土地を描いたのは、彼らの生き方が私の生き方に大きな影響を与えたからであり、想像を絶する苦境に屈せず、苦境を共感と慈悲、強靭な精神に昇華させ、足を大地につけ生きてきた人たちだからです。

 

ぜひ心を自由にして想うままに拙作と会話してくださることを願います。

 

井早智代　　

 

 

 

(左）集積　  (右）水路  （L) Accumlation    (R) Channels            copyright: Kenji Najima/Tomoyo Ihaya

名嶋憲児・井早智代共同制作作品

Collaborative works by Kenji Najima and Tomoyo Ihaya

                        

 

   

      

左より：

聖山

涙を集めるアハマッド    

リンチェン・ドルマ　

空と海と丘と詩 

 From Left:  Sacred Mountain

                    Ahmad Collects Tears

                    Ama Rinchen Dolma

                    The Sky, the Sea, the Hills, and the Poetry     

By Tomoyo Ihaya   

copyright: Tomoyo Ihaya

       スケッチ・棲息地         

       Visual Note - Habitats           

   

       By Tomoyo Ihaya

       copyright: Tomoyo Ihaya                      

Gwangju in May 오월의 광주 ５月の光州

            Stars in our Hearts                       copyright Tomoyo Ihaya 2024  

Gwangju - May 1980

My 'tree' sister, Ms. Park Yanghee, witnessed Gwangju Democratic uprising in 1980

and protests for democracy lead by students after against the dictatorship government,

She lost some friends in protests.  

Every May since 2020, I message her and friends in Korea with a new drawing for Gwangju. 

I drew thinking lost lives living among stars sending love to their loved ones on the earth.

.

She replied:

'I can not say good bye to the May Gwangju.

Friends  have gone but ( they stay )with me in my heart now forever'

So in her heart, many starts are shining. 

And she keeps singing for them and for peace, freedom and love. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62v2Hx_9o7M

Namu( Tree) unni (big sister) singing with Sang-rog oppa(big brother)'s piano.

"Songs in May' in Gwangju

'오월의 광주와 작별할 수 없다.

그들은 갔다.
하지만 지금은 나와 함께 영원히 있다‘

이 그림을 보고 박양희씨는 “1980년 5월 광주에서 돌아가신 동지들께 안녕이라고 말하지 않겠다. 그들은 내 가슴에 영원히 살아 있을 테니까라고” 말해주었습니다. 그녀는 1980년 한국 광주에서 독재정권의 군대가 민주화를 요구하는 학생들과 시민을 무참히 진압한 ’광주사건‘과 그 이후 학생운동의 폭풍 속에서 살아남은 사람입니다. 그때부터 계속 노래를 부르고 있어요.

이 그림은 희생된 사람들이 별이 되어 항상 지상에 사는 동지를 지켜보고 있다는 의미로 그렸는데, 그녀는 이 그림이 이별의 의미가 아니라 함께 살고 있다는 것이기도 하다고 메시지를 보냈습니다. 그녀의 마음에도, 동지를 잃고 아직도 슬픔을 안고 사는 사람들의 마음에도 많은 별이 빛나고 있는 것입니다.

저는 그때 광주에는 없었지만 2018년 인연으로 광주 땅을 따라 희생자 묘지에 가서 이야기를 듣고 5월이 되면 슬픔에 휩싸여 술을 마시고 노래를 부르는 사람들과 시간을 함께 했습니다. 그 후 매년 5월이면 신록의 광주를 그리워하며 한 폭의 그림을 그리게 되었습니다.

この絵を見てヤンヒー姐さんは、「（１９８０年の）５月の光州と亡くなった同志にさよならは言わない。彼らは私の胸に永遠に生きているから」と書いてきました。彼女は、韓国の光州で民主化と求める学生と市民が一体となり大規模なデモを起こし、独裁政権の軍隊に無残に鎮圧された「光州事件」とその後の学生運動の嵐の中を生き抜いた人です。その時からずっと歌を歌っています。

私は犠牲になった人たちが星になって、いつも地上に生きている同志を見守っているというイメージで描いたのですが、彼女がそう言ったときお別れの絵に見えたのだと感じました。だから空から降ってきて地上の同志の胸にやどっている星を描きたしました。彼女の心にも同志を失って未だ悲しみを抱えながら生きている人たちの心にも星がたくさん宿って輝いているのです。

私はその時の光州にはいなかったけど、２０１８年縁あって光州の地をおとづれて、犠牲者の墓地に参り、話を聞き、５月になると悲しみに包まれ酒を飲み歌を歌う人たちと時間を共にしました。それ以来毎年５月になると新緑の光州が浮かんできて、心がざわざわします。その実体験の苦しみや悲しみに自分の共感度は及ばないことは認識しつつ、５月に一枚絵を描くようになりました。

Gwangju Diary   Tomoyo Ihaya 2019     ( Copyright Tomoyo Ihaya 2024)

Each Flame Each Life

 

                                                                        copyright - Tomoyo Ihaya 2024

March 10th, Tibetan Uprising Day is around corner again. It commemorates the 1959 Tibetan uprising which began on March 10th in Lhasa against the presence of the People's Republic of China in Tibet. 

Every year, all over the world, Tibetan people and their supporters gather and march on the street, raising slogans for freedom and return of their homeland. 

Last year, the piece of poem written in Tibetan came out from Tibet to people in exile around March 10th. It was read in front of the crowd both in Tibetan and Ensligh at the protest rally which I attended.

Later, I asked my poet/activist friend, Tenzin Tsundue, to re-translate it into English. 

Yesterday, February 27th, was the 15th anniversary of the first Tibetan self -immolation in Tibet*.

To remember each of over 160 people who self-immolated and in hope that their tragic sacrifices will not be in vain, I share the poem by the  unknown person in Tibet.  I also share this while praying all the lives which are lost every day on this earth due to unnecessary, ignorant and greedy war affairs. Nobody should have to go through the extreme suffering. 

Prayers for the true freedom and peace in Tibet and on this whole earth.  

_

Each Flame Each Life

Each Flame, each life

The living spirit of my countryman

Burnt in red flame,

Burnt for freedom,

The eternal flame in our ignorance.

When I see the flickering flames,

The heart burns,

Burns my soul.

When I see the flickering red flames,

My teardrops melts,

This cry breaks out.

Each flame each life

The living spirit of 

My country man burnt in red flames,

Burnt for freedom.

I have your treatment in my heart

When I see the flickering red flames,

My tear drops melt

This cry breaks out.

Each flame each life

The living spirit of my countryman

Burnt in red flames,

Burnt for freedom

- Unknown, March 2023, Translated by Tenzin Tsundue in April 2023

*Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of the first Tibetan self-immolation in Tibet - Tapey, a money from Kirti monastery, set fire on himself on February 27, 2009.

Since 2009, more than 150 Tibetans have self immolated to protest against repression from the Chinese communist government (Text by Tsering Kyi la)

Solo exhibition at Mie Garo, Japan

 

少し早めのお知らせです。十一月一日から五日まで三重県津市の三重画廊で個展をさせていただくことになりました。

ほとんどの作品は
春から夏いっぱい、迷ったり行き詰まったり光を見たり、一喜一憂しながら制作したものです。
穴倉スタジオの床に這いつくばって制作した過程を思い起こすと、DMの山本賢司さんのお言葉は身に余るもので、恐縮しております()。

パンデミック以来遠くなってしまったインドやラダックの風景や、宮澤賢治の世界観、尹東柱の詩
が, 心から染み出して紙面に出てきてくれたように感じます。画力がついていっているかは？ですが。

御忙しい毎日と察しますが、お近くにいらした際に、
ご高覧いただけたら幸いです。

English: This is a little early notice. I have a solo exhibit at Mie Gallery from  November 1st to the 5th in Tsu city, Mie ken, Japan.
10 to 6 ( last day 10 to 5)
18-19 Chuo, Tsu city, Mie ken, Japan

Most of the work were produced during spring to summer in my YVR cave.
It was quite a journey: joy and sorrow, stuck, and seeing threads of light.

Landscapes of India and Ladakh, Kenji Miyazawa's view of the world, poems by Yun Dong-ju seemed to submerge naturally onto the surface of paper all together.

Many of you live quite far, friends, but if you happen to be coming to this direction, please stop by.