from Boras
5th July- 7th August 2012, I will stay at Boras as an artist-in-residence, Sweden
5th JAugust Sunday
From Narita to Denmark, after about 11-hour flight, we arrived at Copenhagen central station in the evening. It was cloudy.
Station is very traditional one, I felt it was retro & beautiful.
At first we checked in our hotel. then walked around near the station. I had a heavy get lag, but my wife didn't look so.
We dropped at Danish restaurant to drink beer. Maybe there are almost visitors there. We ordered grilled chicken and scallop. They were nice but I thought a bit expencive.
We are going to spend 3 days in Copenhagen, then will move to Sweden.
6th August Monday
Ms. Minako Masui invited my wife and me to her town, Malmo. It took 30 minites from Copenhagen to Malmo by train. Malmo is in Sweden.
It was getting rain when we arrived Malmo central station. We had to call her but we couldn't find public phone anywhere. So we asked to use telephone at tourist imfomation.
Ms. Masui picked us up by car, then drove around Malmo town. It was very nice except rainy weather. Unfortunately modarn museum was closed, but we could eat delicious Swedish food in museum's restaurant.
We could see beautiful fine sky around the noon. We visited KKV Grafik Malmo. It looked very clean printing studio. Some artists were there. Ms. Vera showed the other many studios which were used for making glass work, wood sculpture, metal sculpture, and so on. And they have 2 small guest rooms. I was very interested in them.
We drove to Lund near Malmo. We visited old church whick was famous for Giant Man. We walked around cozy town together. It was comfortable for me to walk and breathe clean air.
It was precious day for my wife and me, because Ms. Masui treated us much. Thank you for everything, Minako.
7th August Tuesday
It was very strange weather today. Cloudy, small rain, then sunshine, and then heary rain..... Cold, warm , hot, cold, heavy wind....!
We walked around center of the Copenhagen in the morning. It was a bit hard for me to walk around because of changeable weather. Around the noon, we caught a heavy shower & wind, so we soaked to the skin.
We visited to the Louisiana museum which Ms. Masui recommeded. It was in a really nice location just beside the beach. What a wonderful viw of the ocean and open-air sculpture, Henry Moore. My favorite exhibits were Giacometti 's works. A few tall thin persons were standing in the big room. It was nice.
We found Yayoi Kusama's installation. It was a dark small mirror room with a lot of lights. Only 2 persons were allowed to go inside at the same time. It was amazing! Their colour canged to yellow blue orenge red.. one after another.
8th August Wednesday
Around the noon, we took a plane from Copenhagen to Goteborg. It was very short flight, only 50 minutes. Christina picked us up from Goteborg airport. After 1 hour driving, finally we arrived to Algarden print studio in Boras, Sweden.
We met Bjorn, Kristina, and German artists, Werner & Tina. All people were nice.
Bjorn & Christina showed us around studios, intagrio, screen printing, lithgragh, gallery, and our rooms.
I felt this studio was comfortable and quiet. It was really quiet place beside a small pond. Someone was fishing over there, peaceful landscape.
I will spend there for one month, but actually I don't have so enough time to make etching, because we have a lot of plans to go to other cities or countries..
9th August Thursday
Fine day today. Warm, no wind, no rain. Beautiful sky.
In the morning, my wife and I walked around near town, Knelland. We could reach by 15minutes walk to the center of the town. It was small, but enough to meet foreign people.
We checked bus time-table or something , because we have to go Goteborg next Saturday. So then we went to Boras town by bike. We borrowed bikes at the studio, but they were big and a bit different system to ride. So riding bike was a bit hard for us.
We found there were many sculptures in Boras. Actually the town organised the international schlpture triennial in this season. We clould see many famous artist's schlptures. For example, Jim Dine's big monument ' Pinocchio' and so on.
On the way to the studio, we saw many soccer supporters walking. It seemed Boras team succer game was held this evening. So we desided to watch it. It was modern stadium near the studio. We could see the game very close to players. We had fun.
10th August Friday
Actually I have been thinking about my work's plan before coming. It is that I ask Swedish to darw their portrait. I sit a bench in market area while showing a sign,"Let me draw your face."
I tried that at the center of the town today. It was cloudy, bit littele shower. I was waiting people who called me for long time, long long time... A middle age man spoked to me with his daughter. But just speaking. I waited for long while again, but nothing happened.
Around 6 pm, 2 men spoke to me, they almost didn't speak English. One man was already dirinking whisky, I felt bit scary, but I drew man's face for about 15 minutes. Finally I could do that, but I could't have a kind of conversation each other.
Maybe I was wasting much time, I thought. I hade to change the plan of my work. I had to think seriously what I should do next.
11th August Saturday
In the morning, we walked to Boras staion, then took a bus to go to Goteborg. It took about one hour. Very fine day today.
Gotebarg was 2nd largest city in Sweden. First, we went to Konsteripemin by tram. It was famous for place a lot of artists were working. I have been interested in artist-in-residence there, but I undestood it was very hard to pass my application. Because only 4 artists were allowed as an artist in residence in a year.Almost 125 artists were working there. They were not only painter but also sculptor, printmaker like me, musician, poet, actor and so on. Although studio fee was not cheap.
Minako kindly booked guest room for us. We could stay there on Saturday and Sunday. But almost artists came back their home because of weekend, so we felt very quiet. But it seemed big music concert would be held near here tonight. Much young people gathered, and sat on the grass like Woodstock. We just worried about we could sleep well tonight.
Goteborg Kunstmuseum had a nice exhibition "surrounding Worhol & Bacon." I was interested in a several works. Also I could see fantastic contemporary sculpture like a left picture.
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12th August Sunday
Last night we went to bed early, then slept well. We didn't hear any noisy music sound at the midnight. But in early morning we found the mess everwhere.
We visited Goteborg city museum in the morning. This building was built by East India company in 17 century. We saw the history of the life style in Goteborg. I used to visit a lot of old-fashioned museum, but it was not like it.
Berits invited us her studio room in Konstepidemin around the noon. She seemed famous artist in Goteborg. She has visted Japan 3 times. We could see a Mt. Fuji, harajyuku-girl and kimono in the part of her print works. She was nice. We chatted a lot, then she showed us around Konstepidemin. Unfortunately we couldn't see many working artist, but we foumd a woman working. She were making a kid of sculpture by concrete & mosaic. We talked a bit with her. She was energetic, and her works inspired me a bit.
We went to center of the town again. We visited craft museum. It was also nice museum, not old-fashined one. I made a left portfolio picture at there. I love this kind of joke.
13th August Monday
We left Konstepidemin in the morning. We returned room key, then dropped to Berits's room and said good bye.
We went to cozy favorite souvenir shop again. Then took a bus to come back to Boras.
There were beautiful clouds in the blue sky. It looked like already Autumn.
We reached Algarden studio, met Bjorn, Christina, Kuristina again. Nothing changed. German artists didn't come back their small trip.
I started my work. Christina were also working at the etching studio. My wife went outside by bike. She found beautiful lake near here.
I had to work more. But I couldn't decide the new plan yet. Anyway I barely made small work.
14th August Tuesday
I worked all day long.
I almost finished to make 2 person's etching, 零無徒 & 売る晩 . I draw face by line etching, then used expose film in the same plate. That was my first try.
Emi & I went the lake to have a lunch. It took 20 minutes by bike. What a nice view! Large lake was there. A few families were lying on the grass and boys & girls were swimming. Very peaceful atmosphere. I just remembered Finland's summer in 3 years ago.
Well I met 2 artists at the studio, Hans and Torbjorn. Hans lived in Goteborg, and Torbjorn was in east from Boras. Both of them were not near, but they came by car.
I thought this studio was in country side but artists liked to work here. I was also feeling like that. I love here.
15th August Wednesday
I worked all day long. Almost no one came to studio today.
I felt lonely a bit, and I was getting tired. I couldn't make me relax perfectly.
Today was a last day of Algarden for Emi. She went to Boras to visit museum by bike. She came back to here around the noon.
We started to prepare for Finland trip. I had to pack, email to Loit, and book a hotel & plane ticket. At that time, my PC was getting bad bacause of different voltage maybe. I had to stop to use PC for charging battery for long while. I had a problem.
Tomorrow we will leave here, and going to go Finland. We will spend at there for 5 nights, then Emi will be back to Tokyo. I will go to Tallinn to see exhibition, then come back to Algarden on 25th August.
16th August Thursday
We left Algarden in the morning. We went to Boras station by taxi, because my wife's baggage was very heavy. Than we took a bus to Alingsas, then took a train for Stockholm. It was a bit a long trip by train.
1 hour passed, it was a time to take a lunch. So we went to a dining car. When we enjoyed our meal, suddenly the train stopped.
At first, we didn't recognise it was big problem. 10 minutes passed, train didn't move, 30 minites, one hour, nothing changed. The announcement was not english, so we asked the person, " what's happened?" Nobody knew clealy, maybe electric trouble or something.
Finally the other train came to the next to railway. We moved to it, then our train started to run. We were relieved, but I couldn't take a seat.
Stockholm was rainy, bit cold. We took a boat, Tallink Silja Line. It satrted from Stockholm at 17:00, and arrived to Helsinki at 10:00. It was one night cruising, and a bit gorgeous one for us. The landscape from our boat was excellent. It moved very slowly between many islands during all night.
17th August Friday
We arrived Helsinki in the morning. Very fine day. We took a train for Tampere city. It was about 2 hours train trip.
Emi liked to visit Muumin museum in Tampere. It was not so big. Tove Jansson's pen drawing looked like etching. They were almost small illustration and very fine line drawing. We also bought some sorveniers at the museum shop.
Naoji Ishiyama had his solo exhibition in Tapere. It was very good timing for us to visit it. Naoji & Chikako changed nothing, but Sakurako grew up. He lived in Jyvaskyla, but many visitors were coming to his opening exhibition. I saw a few artists who I met before at Jyvaskyla. It was a nice show. After that we took a dinner in Japanese restaurant together.
18th August Saturday
Ishiyama family & us walked around Tampere city during a day. We visited museum and had delicious muffin in the cozy shop together. And we said good- bye each other in the evening.
We were back to Helsinki, checked-in the hotel, then walked around the center of city and beside the port. Today was fine day. Every landscape were looked beuatiful, blue sky, white huge temple, and the ocean. Emi wanted to have a window shopping or finding kind of souveniers. We took Spanish dinner and beers.
We ment to supermarket to buy some foods and beers. But we coulldn't buy beer, because we could buy alcoholic drinks from 9AM to 9PM in Helsinki. Maybe it was a lot of problems by drunken person recently.
19th August Sunday
Emi went to Tallinn today. Tallinn was in Estonia. it took 90 minutes by boat from Helsinki.
I walked around Helshinki alone. It was sometimes a bit small shower. The north wind was cold. I thought summer has gone in Helsinki.
I visited modern museum near the central station. I saw a few nice contemporary works. I always thought they gave me a energy.
I was getting tired recently. I didin't have so much appetite in the breakfast. So I went to Chinese restaurant to eat noodle, my favourite. It was expensive, but not so delicious.
I came back hotel, and took sauna in the second floor. I was alone there.
Emi came back to hotel. She was caught in a shower at Tallinn all day. She got soaked.
20th August Monday
We went to market near thr port in the morning. It was fine day, but bit cold, so we bought wool caps. She also bought bag and wool glove.
We were looking forward to going shopping near this street, but we couldn't find suitable things for souvenirs well.
Around the noon, we visited Suomenlinna island. It took 15 minutes by boat. Before going, I hesitated to go there because I felt to be tired.
But it was a beautiful place! There were a lot of walls, artillery and nature. I felt very fine, and could be relax very much.
On the way to the return port, suddenly I noticed I left my coat in somewhere. I was back to my road, and looked for my coat. But finally I couldn't find it. I was very dissapointed.
Recently my brain was a little rusty. I forgot many things. Yesterday I went to museum, and said to reception to buy ticket, " 1 person please." then she said,"Are you senior?" I was really dissapointed.
21th August Tuesday
Today was last day for Emi.
We went to the airport together. I left there for Stockholm first, after 1 hour Emi left there for Tokyo. We said good-bye each other.
I arrived Stockholm around the noon. It was cloudy and sometimes small shower. I walked around the center of the town energetically.
I visited old church in the town like the Middle Ages. I found a fantastic sculpture, dragon & saint riding on the horse. It was almost full size sculpture. I just remembered Motohiko Odani's contemporary sculpture.
I visited moder museum. It was really nice museum. I saw many Japanese artists's works. For example, Yayoi Kusama, Kozuo Shiraga and Sadaharu Horio.
Yoko Ono had exhibition at there. Her work sometimes included a kind of joke, but too conceptual for me. I found a lot of Kusama's work in this trip. Not only in the museum or artbook, but also in the Louis Vuitton's show window.
22nd August Wednesday
I wrote my presentation of Tallinn Triennial in the morning. Actually I have been worried about that. It will be only 20 minutes, but I was nervous for a long while.
It was cloudy. A taxi driver said Stockholm's weather changed quickly, sunshine, cloudy, shower, warm and then cold....
I went outside , and visited national museum. It had a special exhibition, but I was not so interested in it. Much Swedish industrial design products were there. I saw a small Rembrandt's self-portrait painting at there.
I also visited old town again. I looked for some sourvenir, and bought 2 small typical dolls.
I took a boat for Tallinn at 17:30. I booked cheap room for 2 persons. A roommate was an Estonian, nice man. I spent one night on the boat.
23rd August Thursday
I wake up at the room on the boat. I could sleep not so well, but enough.
At the Tallin Port, Loit was waiting for me beside his car. He kindly picked me up, then drove to the guest room. Very old eleveter was used at there, it looked really traditional one. He showed me to the guest room in the old building. I should share with the other young artist who also joined the exhibition. He was Latvian, he just graduated from art academy. I thought he was open mind and gentle. We could easyly to talk each other soon.
We went to gallery together around the noon. But my works were not hanged on the wall yet. But I didn't surprise. That was not so unusual thing in the foreign gallery. In our gallery, 6 artists showed their works. It was one of the Tallin drawing triennial.
Our gallery's opening started at 16:00. Many people came to gallery. Some visitors liked my work very much. I talked a lot about my work with them. I was very happy to talk about my work for that person. I got good reaction more than I expected before.
24th August Friday
Finally it was conference day today. I was always thinking about my presentation, and actually I felt a kind of pressre durling this trip.
There were 10 artists and only about 15 visitors at the hall. Every artist had 20 minutes to talk about the topic which was concerned to drawing. My theme was " my etching drawing." I didn't want to do just reading sentences which I prepared before. I noted some contents on the paper. I talked & showed my works on the projector. I couldn't talk well. I missed a few contents. But my presentation was not so bad, almost ok. I thought artist didn't have to speak fluently. People didn't expect that. We should just speak honesty.
It was a time to leave Tallinn. I said good-bye to Loit, then handed him Japanese survenier. I walked to the port with heavy baggege, then took a boat. I booked cheapest room for 4 persons, so I was afraid of other 3 guys. But I didn't need to worry about that. They were all nice people.
25th August Saturday
I woke up on the boat. I took a hot coffee at the lounge which I could see the outside ocean. What a fine day today! It was a beautuful view from the window. I could be relax and just saw the sea varguly for a long while.
I found a strenge clock. It had 3 hands. Then I understood it was a time difference from Tallinn to Stockholm. I had to change my watch's hand many times in this trip, and also money, too.
Stockholm was very fine day unusually. I got off the boat, and took a bus to the central station. Then I took a bullet train for Boras. After 4 hours, I came back to Algarden studio.
My busy trip has done today. I want to concentrate to my work at the calm studio from tomorrow.
Boras was already Autumn.
26th August Sunday
Algarden had a exhibition room. It was high selling and nice white traditional wall building. It was not only for exhibition but also several kind of party, wedding, birthday etc. Last night women's birthday party was done at there. I knew birthday was very special thing for Europian people. Women's parents maybe organized, they maybe paid much money, many her friends or relatives were invited, and they prepared a lot of foods, champagnes, beers, wines..Peoples dressed up, and singing & dancing. They looked really fun.
The other hand, I couldn't sleep. Loudly music and voice bothered me during all night.
If I couldn't sleep well, I woke up as usual. I couldn't sleep for long time like a young age.
I started working again. I almost finished 4 portraits until today.
Bjorn & Christina & I went to Thai food restaurant by car. I ordered fried rice, Christina ordered curry rice. It was really delicious. After that we visited Boras museum. Open air exhibition was shown at there. But it was not so good. But location was fantastic.
27th August Monday
Fine day. I heard Tokyo was 33 tempareture and humid. Boras was about 20 tempareture.
Studio was already cold in the morning and evening. So I asked Bjorn where I could buy under wear. Bjorn kindly drived me to near the town to buy it. I bought it at H & M. It was not typical white one. It was dark blue & gray with stripes. I liked it.
Bjorn was really nice. He barrowed me fleece jacket today. And he also cooked pasta with sausage. He sometimes cooked lunce for us. Then he made coffee as usual. Around 3 pm. he asked me to drink a coffee.
I asked him why he was so nice. He answered because I was a guest. I just couldn't believe such a comfortable artist-in-residence. Actually I experienced a few artist-in-residence in the different studios. Of course, I had to pay some money to stay studio. But it didn't need in Algarden.
Tell you the truth, I didn't want to tell about here to other printmaking artists. You know what I mean.
28th August Tuesday
Cold today.
Kiki handed me DM which was next group exhibition in Algarden. The opening will be at 6th next month. I will leave here at 7th. I had a good motivation to make my work for exhibition. But I had only 8 days until the opening. I almost finished 6 portfolio. I wanted to make more than double works.
Anyway actually I was learning English by Skype when I was in Japan. I could talk 25 minutes with Philippine teacher in a day. Of course I could do it in Sweden, but it was a bit difficult because of time difference. Today I did it first time, but it was not so fun. English was enough now.
It was rain all day. I worked all day long.
29th August wednesday
Algarden had a few studios, office house, Intaglio & wood engraving studio, lithogragh & screen printing studio, exhibition studio, and the other some sheds. I worked at intaglio studio everyday( left side picture).All studio were standing next to river. We always listened to sound of running river. A lot of birds were coming anytime. We were in like a forest.
So some fishers always came to beside the river. And also some peoples sometimes were lying near there. I thought they came to there for sun bath, but Bjorn said they were drinking all days. Although they were not gang. What were they doing everyday? They might get money by unemployment insurance or something? I heard from Naoji it was big problem in Finland.
Renaart said to me he got CT in hospital yesterday. It was really rewest machine, so he was checked his heart illness. I asked him it must be quite expensive. But he said it was everything free in hospital.
30th Auguat Thursday
Rain &b cold today. I got up as usual, took a breackfast, then did laundry and went to studio. I felt I was really tired, and studio was cold yet. I couldn't concentrate working. I was so sleepy, but I barely worked.
Today also Kiki cooked lunch. I ate much Stroganoff. I was back my work, but couldn't do. I took a nap for 2 hours, then return to the studio.
Thomas was a funny guy. He talked fast, and alway said joke. He was making digital print using big printer. It seemed a machine had bit trouble today.
I always drunk a beer before goint to bed. But I drunk red wine from tonight.
Nothing happened, nothing special today.
31st August Friday
Renaart asked me to visit his friend's house by car. It took 30 minutes from here. He drove Toyota Carola very quickly although elder parson. We arrived the place in the almost forest. A few very old wooden houses were there. Really beautiful place! Middle age couple and son lived there. A man was kind of collecter of art work, especially prints. He showed me many precious collections included Ukiyo-e or something. They must be very expensive. A woman, his wife was a populer knitter, name was Kerstin Jonsson. She have been Japan twice to have workshop in Kiyosato. She showed me Japanese Knitting magazine which introduced her knitting. She also showed me her studio, then gave me gloves. What a nice one! She said, "Next time come with your wife."
We took a lunce with their son together, then took walk in the forest. I could see a lot of fresh green moss on the stone. And hazelnut tree were everywhere.
On the way to Algarden, Renaart showed me his sculpture in Boras and near Knelleland town.
Ist September Saturday
Finally September has come. I had only 6 days staying here.
Today's lunch was fried fish with tartar sauce, boiled potato and sliced carrot. Bjorn always cooked and Christina helped something. Renaart & I were just ate as usual. His meal was almost delicious. Tartar sauce was so nice.
Christina came back from Grafisch huis near Stockholm yesterday. It was well known printmaking studio, so I also wanted to visit there. But It was a bit difficult to go. From Stockholm we had to took a train then took a bus then... Some famous printmaking artists gathered to have their workshop at there. Christina joined intaglio workshop of Finnish artists.
Recently I worked from 8am to 8pm. I have been tired for long while. Sometimes I felt really tired. But I choosed this way until group exhibition opening. I had strong motivation to make my work now. So I just worked worked worked everyday.
2nd September Sunday
Bjorn & Kiki invited me their house. I took 30 minuetes by car from Algarden. Their house was in the really country side. It was in almost top of the hill or the forest. There was no shop near there. Supermarket was 10 kilometers away from their house. Really quite. No sound. They had a beautiful large grass & moss garden. I picked some yellow masahroom from the garden for dinner.
I sometimes thinking about " What is the happiness?" I thought same thing before, when I visited Naoji's friend who had large house and horses beside the lake in Finland. I compared my house to theirs. It was perfectly different, everything different. They had large place and nature and quite. But they could't buy something when they wanted. The other hands, I could get something easily whenever I wanted. But I had no nature & large garden.
I stayed one night at their house, then came back. I made about 10 small works until today. I wanted to make more 2 works at least.
3rd september Monday
Very fine day. I took many photos near Algarden, bacause it was really fine weather and comfortable day.
I had to almost finish my works except final printing. I worked hard much, from 8am to 11 pm. Every portfolio made by etching & aquatint & kind of photo-etching. Actually I named every portfolio by Japanese Kanji calligraphy. For example, I named Bjorn's portfolio ”美音” like that. I named all etchings, then I did photo-etching 14 plates. I finished 14 small etching's all making prosess. Tomorrow I will print them finally.
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4th September Tuesday
Rain all day.
Today I did final print. I printed same way as I did in Japan. I used Gampi Japanese paper by technique " chine-colle." Actually I brought many materials from Japan. So I did my work very smoothly. I thought that was better finally.
Around the noon, I visited personal museum near the town. I already made appointment by email with curater. He kindly show me around and explained his collections. They were especially American Pop Art prints from 1960 to 1970. I could saw famous prints a lot, Warholl, Jim Dine, Hockney, Rauschenberg etc.
I was back to studio, then printed again. After 9pm I finished all my works.
Our exhibition's opening is day after tomorrow. I can work tomorrow also, but I dicided to finish work today. Maybe I have to do something for leaving Sweden tomorrow. I will leave here on friday.
5th September Wednesday
Last night I ate much junk foods with 4 can beers. So I had diarrhea in the morning. I wanted to sleep more at least 9am, but I couldn't do. I wanted to be relax much only today, but maybe I was not good at being relax and enjoying.
I felt empty, because my print works were finishede yesterday. I had nothing to do hard. Maybe it was not neccesary to make my work, I couldn't alive. I always thought so.
I cleaned my space of the studio. I threw away test prints or art materials etc as much as popssible. I helped Bjorn to hang prints on the gallery's wall. I made list of my work.
2 women and a girl came to here. Agnes, 12 years old, was intrested in Japan, so her mom brought her to see me. Actually a girl was really really shy. She almost couldn't speak, and didn't watch me. She loved Japanese animation, and always listened to anime song. She wanted to go Japanese school, but just thinking. I talked about Hayao Miyazaki or Sailor Moon or cosplay and so on. But she almost didn't speak. Actually I liked shy person. I couldn't talk with her well, so I wanted give something Japanese. I gave her Japanese paper post card and brush. She gave me drawing dragon on the paper.
6th September Thursday
Today was opening day, and almost last day for me.
I saw a black rabbit in the garden. It was first time to see. I thought I had a something good today.
Kiki showed me local newspaper which my intaview article was 1st page of cluture category. Yesterday press came to here to intaview to me. The reporter, young guy, very nice and spoke clear english, so I could talk easily a lot. I was very surprised such a big article about me.
I presented Bjorn & Kiki a few Japanese sourvenirs. I bought Syaraku's renewal Ukiyo-e woodcut printings for them in Kanda. And also I presented Japanese handkerchieves and my small prints. Hans & I preparede many spot lights in gallery. After that I went to outside by bike.
It was very fine day. I appreciated to the weather and took a deep breath. I visited Boras Kunst museum. I could see very nice solo exhibition.
Came back Algarden, then ate soup which Bjorn cooked. And just waiting for opening. I had nothing to do. I felt lonely & empty. I took nap a little. I just worry about something. Maybe always so, before opening, I worried about something.
But around 6 pm, many visiters came. Also some people who I met here came, too. I got many good reactions from them. And 4 works were sold. I was very glad. I didn't expect that. Maybe bacause of today's newspaper.
7th September Friday
Flnally last day today.
At 10 am, I said goodbye to Bjorn & Kristina and hugged. Then left the Algarden.
Kiki drive me to the airport for 30 min, and I said goodbye to her. I was sad much,,,,, but,,, I wasvery satisfied this artist in residence.
The first half of trip, wife & I traveled a lot. Copenhagen, Malmo, Goteborg, Stockholm, Finland, Tampere, Helsinki, Tallin. We visited Naoji's exhibition and could met his family. I joined our opening party of Tallin Drawing Triennial, then I presented my work by short speech. I took the boat 3 times. I met many artists or stuff or Swedish Finnish Estonian people.
The second half, I worked hard and quiet everyday in Algarden studio. I just worked from 8am to 8pm. Also I met a few artists who loved Algarden. Finally I joined our group exhibition's opening. That was parfect residency.
I spent the time very usefully, but the other hand every time was busy. Not lazy, couldn't be relax. That was OK. Maybe I was that kind of person. It was fit me.
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Tokyo was humit, still summer.