from Canberra
21st October - 2nd December 2013, I stay at Canberra, Australia, as an artist-in-residence.
21st October Monday
When I checked in at the Narita Airport, Jal's staff told me a wrong departure gate. And I asked her twice where I have to take my baggage. She answered Canberra. But it was also wrong. Actually I have to pick up it at Sydney, then change the plane for Camberra.I almost miss my baggage. Yesterday I left Tokyo in the evening. I arrived Sydney in this early morning, then arrived at Canberra around the noon.
Alison kindly picked me up from airport. First she drived me to my residence, farmer's house. It looks very comfortable. Scot, glass artist, was waiting for us to say welcome. He told me how to use this house, then left there. He will be back 2 weeks later.
Finally I arrived Megalo Print Studio. It is nice and very clean studio. I met some stuffs and artists. 2 women were preparing their group exhibition in the gallery. John, litho & etching technical adviser showed me all equipment of the studio. I was surpsized they really took care of safety for artist.
Actually it is only 2 hour time difference Japan & Australia, but I felt very tired because I couldn't sleep in the airplane. We took a lunch togather, about 10 peoples. They chated a lot, but I almost couldn't understand their conversation.
I bought copper plate, then cut it every 15x10cm each. I preparede 15 small plates today.
Alison drive me to the cotage again. I took a bike to go out side around near hear. I am tired but I felt fresh much on bike. I went to supermaket near the studio to buy food. I cooked noodle and sausage for dinner. I ate salami & potato-chips with beer. It was my favorite, but I know that is not so good for body. Suddenly I felt really sleepy. I slept at 9 pm.
22nd October Tuesday
Last night I slept very well.
Keiko, Jorg Schmeisser's widow, came to the studio. We took a lunch with her. I didn’t know Jorg Schmeisser lived in Canberra. He died last year. I respect him. I have his DVD which he shows his work or how to make his work and so on. I used to talk about his work when I was a par time teacher in Geidai. Anyway I spoke with her by Japanese a little.
I started my work today. I painted etching ground on the all copper plates as usual. It took about 4 hours.
I went outside to look for tennis club by bike. It is very beautiful weather although wind is cold. I found a tennis club near the studio. I ask a coach about the tennis lesson. I also look for other one, but it is a bit far from studio.
It is around 6 pm, I came back to the studio, people are almost gone. But 2 men & 3 women came and start lino-cut work at my same table. They are same amateur group. I chatted with them a lot. Very nice people. They come to studio wednesday every other week. I want to meet them again.
24th October Thursday
I noticed my alarm clock was still Japanese time this morning. I awaked 7 am. I felt it was early a little. So I did laundry and cooked breakfast. But clock of the cottage already showed 9:30.
It was windy day, blue sky, but cold wind. So I brought underwear. The studio was quiet today. John was not there. I wanted to draw Alison & John’s portraits, but I could not have a good idea all day. I met Basil. He is a superior printer. He looked like Abito-san so much. He came here to prepare tomorrow’s his etching workshop.
I walked around near the super market. There were many kind of shop there. I changed money from Japanese yen to Australia dollar at the bank. I went inside the book shop to check calendar, because my wife asked me to buy nice one for present. I found SIM card for mobile phone at the stationary shop. So I asked shop’s staff if my smart phone can use the SIM card. Young woman kindly taught me how to use it and how to get my telephone number. I was back to the studio. I try to call to SIM company, but I couldn’t understand operator’s explanation. So I asked Basil to help me. He kindly talked with the operator, and finally we got my own phone number. It was also bit hard for him, because operator talked really different accent. Actually Alison worried I didn’t have mobile phone. So I told her my phone number right away. Basil and I talked a lot while we were having a lunch together. Thanks a lot, Basil.
Trever came and work at the same table from 6 pm. He came here every Thursday evening. He seems sometimes paints and also makes lithogragh.
25th October Friday
I went to the bicycle shop to buy helmet and small light. Keiko said if I didn’t take helmet on the bike, I had to pay 69 dollars. At first, I didn’t care about that, but I decided to buy it. I didn’t want to make Alison worry about me.
I checked bicycle shop on the internet. It took 25 minutes by bike. It was beautiful sky, but wind was cold. I borrowed mountain bike from Megalo studio. Actually I am not good at mountain bike, because I have to bend forward much. I felt backache a little. I asked stuff of bike shop about cheapest helmet, because it is 59 dollars. He recommended to go to the big mall. But it is too far from here, so I bought it.
I came back to the studio. Basil’s intaglio workshop started this morning. 8 women were making dry-point print by zinc plate.
Annie suggested me to go to National Art University together. She had to go there to have a meeting. I agreed her. She drove me to go there. Young woman, assistant of printmaking course, showed me around the huge studio. I thought I always visited printmaking studio. I thought each studio was different a bit. They still used nitric acid. I met a few very friendly students. It was fun.
We came back Megalo, and I went to the other bigger super market which Annie told me. I bought eggs, bacon, leek and beers.
I started to draw John and Annie’s portrait in the evening
.26th October Suturday
In the morning, big balloon shaped whale with many breasts floated just behind the studio. It has funny face and strange shape. What a nice it is!
Inside studio I felt a bit cold, so I always took underwear. Today also there was wood-block workshop. About 10 women came and joined it. I worked all day long as usual, but I couldn’t finish even one portrait yet.
I applied to play tennis on the internet, every Thursday, only one hour each. Tennis court was very near the studio. I went there to check the class last day. Actually it was for beginner’s one, but I decided to join it.
Alison told me there is event which concern to Canberra and Nara-city 50th anniversary of sister city. Around 7 pm, I took a bike for 15 minutes to go there. The event was held in Nara Park near the lake. There were a lot of people, also Japanese, really crowded. I found several kind of tent shops, for example, kimono, origami, Japanese calligraphy, Okonomiyaki, Gyoza, Takoyaki, etc. I wanted to try Okonomiyaki, but I gave up , because there was long line every in front of the food shops. I bought small traditional pochette for Alison, because I didn’t buy suitable souvenir for her.
On the way to the home, I met fox on the road.
27th October Sunday
I saw a couple of wallabies in my garden in the morning. A wallaby run really fast just in front of me. What happened! I was really excited. There are many kinds of birds here. I have never seen them in Japan. Especially in early morning, we can hear beautiful early bird’s singing much. Actually my cottage is in the forest. When I come back home in the night, it is dark perfectly around here. I feel we human are tiny. The nature is first, and then we live in a small world. I have never thought like that way before.
Today was Sunday. The studio was not busy, almost quiet. I could concentrate my work. Around the noon, Annie and I went to Sunday market. I was surprised there were many 2nd hand stuff and food markets just behind the studio. I bought small fish shaped accessory for my wife.
I tried test print. It was first print here. I did also first aquatint. It already 6 days passed. But I couldn’t finish even one portrait.
28th October Monday
The studio closed Monday. But I could use it. Annie and I were only two in the studio.
I checked the exposure time of Pure Etch film many times. Then I knew suitable time.
I finished John’s portrait finally. It took many days to finish it. Actually I forgot to bring a few important stuffs from Japan. I bought mini rice cooker for this trip, but I forgot to bring an electric cord, the rayon which I always used for wiping ink from the copper plate, the glove which I got used to, the charger for camera, etc.
It was cloudy today, just little bit rain. I could concentrate my work all day. I was used to the studio little by little.
29th October Tuesday
It's already one week past today. I finished Annie and Trevor’s portraits.
Around 7 pm, Niel kindly picked me up from Megalo to Ian’s opening exhibition by car. Neil and Ian was a same lino-cut printmaking workshop member on Wednesday every other week. It was 20 minutes drive, we arrived new modern building which had 2 galleries. He showed his lino-cut works in a cozy gallery. His works were natural and funny. I felt Ian was also natural character. I met Ally and again. We chatted a lot. But I couldn’t understand their rapidly conversation well.
If there is something difference between Australian and Japanese, Japanese people doesn't pick me up like Niel today, because we just met last week. We chatted a little in the same table, that’s all. I met his wife and also I visited his house today. He already treated me as one of the friend.
I was back to the studio. I already drunk 2 cups of wine, but I was back in my work again. I met 2 women, Ilona and Gillian. They came everyTuesday’s evening to do etching. They were elder women a little, but really friendly to me.
30th October Wednesday
Nothing special today. I made Ingeborg and Megan’s portrait. But I couldn’t finish yet.
I knew Jorg Schmeisser lived in Camberra before. He has often come to Megalo studio and had workshops. He also taught at Australia National Art University. Alison or Keiko was taught by him. He organized exchange student from Japan, Kyoto Seika University. Many Japanese students have come to there while he was in there. Actually there was middle size etching press in Megalo, it was used by him before.
Anyway I bought sausage, lettuce, eggs and beers today, too. I always bought same foods. Before I came here, I wanted to go cheap bar or somewhere after work. So I checked them near the studio, but all restaurants had only expensive dishes. So I gave up that. Every stuff was more expensive than Japan. I wanted to buy cheap beers or wine, but I couldn’t find them. I felt Japan was deflation now.
31st October Thursday
I met Basil again. He is very nice to me. He quitted his teaching of elementary. Then he went to art University to learn printmaking. After that he became printer, because he loved Schmeisser’s work. I asked him about lift-ground or how to wipe the ink, etc. He use hand for wiping. Almost professional printer do like this.
I played tennis in the evening. It was first try for me. It took 5 minutes from Megalo to tennis court by bike. It was really convenient. I felt nervous a bit, because it was a first lesson. The coach, his name was Robbie, was very friendly. But I couldn’t understand his talking. About 8 players gathered, played tennis practice. Actually they were almost beginner, so I didn’t satisfy to play with them. But I didn’t have any other choice, because of convinience. It’s Ok. I just want to play tennis.
I remember when I was in Netherlands about 5 years ago. I really wanted to play tennis. I often went to see tennis near my apartment. But finally I couldn’t join them. Actually I really regretted why I didn’t play tennis at that time. I had just fun to play tennis today, and also I met many new friends. I drank a beer after tennis. It was so delicious, right.
1st November Friday
It was Basil’s workshop day today. It will be very crowded by about 10 members in etching space, so I went to the outside to visit National Gallery for a while. Very fine day. Outside was really warm. I took a bike, and ran beside the lake. What a beautiful landscape! I felt comfortable much.
The National Gallery had many aboriginal art collections. I didn't feel so different, because it was already well-known. I remembered Yayoi Kusama’s "dot" work because same as it. I felt that the "dot" might be a kind of primitive expression. I visited Portrait Gallery, too.
I was back to the studio, and started my work. I made Basil’s portrait by deep etching technique. I had to etch again and again. It took long time to finish it. I regretted that I forgot to bring a rayon cloth. I couldn’t print well.
2nd November Saturday
I am always first coming to the studio every day. I just worked all day long, and I am almost last person to leave there. I sometimes wonder if it is a good choice, because I came here all the way from Tokyo. I might be never come back to Australia again. So I should go to the other place for sightseeing. For example Ayers Rock or something. But actually it is far from here. It will take more than 4 days to go & return there. And I have to prepare for trip a lot. Australia is really huge islands.
Today was Saturday. I met Tess, one of the lino-cut members, again. Some new persons, for me, came to the studio. Ria, young women, came to etching. She was a beginner of etching. She visited Japan last May. She went Nao-shima, Tokyo, Kyoto etc. I felt her big blue eyes were nice. So I asked her to draw her portrait. At first I hesitated that a bit, but I remembered I often missed opportunity to ask. And I also asked Nicci, an assistant of printmaking department of the Australia National Art University, to draw her by email. She accepted my offer quickly by return email.
When Ria left the studio in the evening, I noticed she didn’t clean up ferric chloride. So I said her to clean it. But she just asked a stuff of studio to do it
3rd November Sunday
Today is Sunday. Annie, , and I. Quiet studio… I could concentrate my work, because nobody was etching studio. The screen printing was popular here. At least a few artists came to work every day. They printed not only on paper also on cloth. I thought it was influenced by education of Art University.
Around the noon, I went to the grass museum just next the studio. We could see artists were making grass stuff. It was interesting. On the way to the studio, I bought handmade bread in the sunday market.
I came back my cottage. Scot was already back there. He will stay 2 nights here, and go to Sydney 2 nights…. He looked busy. He said so, then went back to sleep. I have to share with him from now. I awaked in the midnight. I could not fall in sleep well.
4th November Monday
Studio closed on Monday today, but I worked as usual. I did photo-etching in the morning. I used pure etch film on the copper plate, and then I exposed it. I corroded it for 40 minutes. Finally 8 portraits finished.
In the screen printing studio, Piet and her friends, and Julie were there. We chatted a lot with coffee or tea. 2 women had been to Japan before. They spoke well of Japanese people. They couldn’t have conversation, but they understood the kindness of Japanese. Piet printed on T-shirts. It was good drawing screen print. She spoke English with Australian accent, I almost didn’t understand it. It was hard situation for me.
Around the noon, I started final printing with Gampi. I printed every 2 sheets prints by 8 plates. One sheet was as a gift for friend, the other was mine. All finished, I was very tired.
I asked Julie for model of portrait. She accepted that.
5th November Tuesday
I had to make new portrait from today. It was always hardest process for me. It was not easy to have a new idea. Today I felt tired, not concentrated working. So I decided to go outside. I went to “city” by bike. It took 30 minutes. I rode a bike just beside a big lake. It was really comfortable, although wind was still cold. I arrived at “city”. Here was center of Canberra. I went a super market to find something special. But I bought just a cheap sausage and wine. I went inside big mall which had a lot of kind of shops. It was not so bad to walk around the modern mall, but I was never interested in expensive brand shop. I looked for calendar or Christmas goods for my wife, but I couldn’t find good one.
I came back the studio, but I still felt really tired. So I went to outside by walk. I found a bench in the large park. I lied down on the bench. What a beautiful day today, too! I took rest there for a long while. So my feeling was getting better.
Michelle and Val came every Tuesday. I wanted to draw their portraits, but it was not doing well.
The opening party of group exhibition, Annie& Bev & Kirstie, started at 6pm. A lot of visitors came, but I almost didn’t know anyone. I chatted with elderly who was scientist for a while. The other hands, Tuesday evening etching members, Ilona and Gillian came to work. They were friendly for me, and talked with a lot. I already drank 3 cups of red wine.
6th November Wednesday
2 weeks passed. I can stay here more for 4 weeks. Last artist-in-residence in Canada was for 3 weeks. It was really busy and passed quickly. It was double period in this time.
Anyway I felt really tired also today. I am not sure I could not sleep well recently. I felt backache, but it was better than yesterday. I barely had a good idea for Alison, Peter, Julie’s portraits. Finally I could draw it by needle.
We often ate lunch together at the same table. I thought it was good thing to have friendship or exchange the topics. Alison worried about me if someone annoyed while I was working. I replied I was not that type of the person. I preferred to chat with many friends. She also suggested having Japanese food party at the cottage. She said we will cook Japanese foods. What a surprise! She cared me a lot.
Around 6 pm, lino-cut member, Alison Peisker, Lisa, Neil, Ian, Tess, came. I asked everyone to make their portraits. Every parson kindly accepted my proposal. We spent 3 hours at the same table. I was thinking their portraits all the time.
It was getting warmer. 2 weeeks ago only few blossams were blooming. But this tree were in full bloom now.
7th November Thursday
I went to the food market. It was a kind of huge supermarket. It took 15 minutes by bike from studio. I found Asian grocery store. I could buy almost Japanese food, for example, Gyoza, Natto, Surimi, Tohu, etc. But they were quite expensive. I thought they were about triple price compare to Japan. I hesitated to buy them a little, but I bought a lot of foods for next 4 weeks.
At the evening, I went to tennis court. I was looking forward to playing tennis. Before the class, Chinese young women Bilian and I play tennis rally for a short time. Really hot today, and the sunshine was still shining, so I took a sunglass. Actually there were a lot of flies everywhere. They were really annoying us. After the class, I wanted to join in other players, but I couldn’t do that.
I came back to the studio. Alison was still working to have a meeting. Torever was lithograph space, so I handed his portrait to him. He looked happy to get it. I was also happy.
I ate Natto rice after a long separation. But Natto was not suit for Thai rice, because it wasn’t put on the rice well. I also ate Tohu, but I didn’t feel so excellent.
I visited to Australian War Memorial in the morning. It was very nice museum. We could see a lot of kind of real size combat planes, had experience to get on the plane or ship etc. We should never forgot about Japanese army did to Australia at the 2nd war. I am sorry to say I didn’t know so much about it. This exhibition showed story that Japan attacked on Australia many times. At the end of it, of course 2 atomic bombs were fallen in Japan, and then the war was over. There were many elementary students to see there. I thought it was really interest for me than art museum.
I remembered Hiroshima bomb museum. I thought, we, Japanese, had to go there. But we don’t have suitable war museum. I was not educated about 2nd war so much. We, Japanese unfortunately didn’t know so much about Japanese army did to the abroad at the 2nd war. I should study that by my own again.
I came back the studio. I handed my portrait etchings to Basil, Ingeborg and Megan. I hope everyone is happy to get them.
It was heavy wind in the morning. And then it was little shower in the evening. A bit strange weather today.
10th November Sunday
I arrived studio in the morning. I turn on the switch of the computer, but it didn’t work. I tried to turn on again and again, but didn’t change. I brought it every day from cottage to the studio, so it was broken? That made me really inconveniently. Actually there were 2 mac-computers in the studio, but they were so slowly. I could do email by them, it was not so bad situation.
Annie came to the studio with her daughter. I had a nice first impression from her.
I asked Millan to make his portrait. He accepted that immediately. He was clever and funny.
It was cloudy in the morning, then cold rain. It continued all day. It was rear case.
11th November Monday
Shimizu-san sent to me email about my next year’s job from Japan. It was a part time teacher at the Women’s Art University. I appreciated her very much. I could see her email by Japanese, but I couldn’t sent her Japanese email by Mac in the studio.
It was cold today. A few persons came here, but they didn’t work, then left soon. I was almost alone in the studio all day. I couldn’t concentrate my work. I checked Facebook many times. I had to draw new portraits, but I didn’t have good idea. Umm.., not so good. It was hardest process of my etching work.
I felt alone a little. But I tried not to think about that too much..
12th November Tuesday
Pieta kindly drove me to the computer repair shop. I asked a stuff of the shop about my broken computer. He explained that the trouble might was from the mother of it, or not. He didn’t have a part of Windows machine for fixing. It will take about more than 2 weeks to repair it.
I decided not to ask to fix it, because I will leave here after 3 weeks.
13th November Wednesday
In the evening, Megalo had a party to appreciate for concerned people. It was a bit formal one. But I knew nobody. Alison kindly introduced me to some parsons. I met elderly man who retired from science teacher. We talked for a long while together. He save me from my loneliness. I was not good at party. I was not the type of sociable character.
After the party, I went to tennis court. I played tennis with 3 players who I met them tonight. We played doubles game, But I felt boring. They didn’t hustle to play. They were almost beginners.
14th November Thursday
Sumie-san came to the studio. She was a Japanese ambassador to the Australia. Alison, Ingeborg, Megan and I had a lunch with her in the studio.
I went to the national library to see a Map Exhibition. It was not a big exhibition, but I was interested in it. Then I went to national museum by bike. I imagined old style museum before I go, but it was very modern building and exhibition. Very nice weather. I felt refresh while I took a bike beside a big lake. I could see many birds near shore.
I played tennis in the evening today, too.
15th November Friday
Basil had his etching workshop also today. About 10 women came every Friday morning. I showed how to do Chin-Cole in his workshop for a short while. The Chin-Cole was popular for Japanese etcher. We could buy Japanese paper Gampi easily in Japan, but it was hard to get it here. And also Cine-Cole was not popular for Australian. Anyway I was glad people were very interested in my demonstration.
Sumie-san emailed me about opening party of Japanese ceramic artist.
Ingeborg said to me about the date of my artist talk. It was a good news for me.
16th November Saturday
I sometimes couldn’t sleep well recently. I was not sure why. Maybe I was still unused to share room.
Annika had her lithograph work shop all day. I imagined she might be really tired, but she taught energetic at the end of it. She was tough.
I made Tess’s portrait today. I expected it was going to be good one.
17th November Sunday
It was cold in the morning. I had a sore throat a bit. I had been under tiredness recently. I was not good today.
I visited M16 gallery which Scot recommended. It seemed popular gallery. I saw group show at there. They were almost good quality works. I found many artist residency rooms behind the gallery. They looked good environment.
18th November Monday
Pauleen Came to the studio to print her big wood engraving work. She seemed to have to finish it for presentation of the university by next Thursday. She said her son stayed in Japan now. And he was going to get married with Japanese woman. She wanted to come to Japan when he would have wedding party. I might met her again in the near future in Japan.
I printed 6 portraits, but they were not good print. I forgot to bring the cloth for wiping the ink from Japan, so I couldn’t print well. I had to print them today for my artist talk. I tried print by the different ways. I finally gave up to print perfectly.
19th November Tuesday
I took a bike on the different road to the studio today. It took about 1 and half hour. I run on the bicycle road just beside the lake. It was big nature, beautiful landscape. I saw a lot of unfamiliar birds, horses, cows and small rabbits. It was fine day. I felt really comfortable.
John came to the studio after a long separation. He had gotten married recently. He visited fianc?e’s relative and so on for a while. I handed his portrait etching to him. He also gave me his lithograph work.
I went to Kingston library near the studio. It was small library, but it had a few computers. We could use internet by them one hour in a day. That was really convenient for me.
Deborah came to the studio to work lithograph. She just came back from Japan recently. She stayed at the Kawagichi-ko near the Mt. Fuji as an artist in residence for about a month. Actually I met April who stayed at the same place with Deborah before I came to Australia. I was surprised to hear they were already good friends. It is a small world, right.
I played tennis lesson in the evening. In the middle of the lesson, it began to heavy rain, so we stopped it. I was back to the studio, but the rain didn’t seem stop for a while. Steve kindly drove me to my cottage.
20th November Wednesday
I had “artist talk” in the evening. About 60 visitors came to join in it. I didn’t expect that so many people came. I used PC a little to explain my recent works. And also I showed my some etching works on the table. I talked about for one hour. I felt people were very nice and enjoyed my talking. I said a small joke, then they laughed and had warm reaction. I satisfied very much.
I thought that my work “ friends” made me happy. I showed 17 portraits today. Some visitors liked this series very much.
I met Mizue-san and the other some Japanese. I handed Ian his portrait print, then he gave me his lino-cut work.
I thought I had a good job today.
21st November Thursday
I booked the hotel by “booking com” which I will stay at Sydney for 3 days at the Kingston library.
Sumie-san came to the studio in the evening. She drive me to the Japanese ceramic artist’s opening party at the Watson gallery. It had also some guest rooms for artist-in-residence. It was in just beside the lake. I felt it was in the nice location.
22nd November Friday
I went to food market by bike. I bought Natto, Gyoza, and so on at the Asian grocery shop.
Tess came to the studio. I handed her my portrait work. She also gave me her middle size of wood engraving work. I loved it, so I was very happy to get it.
John, Mizue-san’s husband, came to the studio to buy my work. I showed my all prints for him, then he bought “Brilliant tears”. He said he wanted to give his daughter it for Christmas. He requested me to write on the back of the print, “May you never need to cry.” That was very nice sentence, right.
23rd November Saturday
I handed Alison’s portrait to her. She looked glad to get it. I was relieved a little.
Annika had her work shop today. I could talk with her for a while after that. She had joined to the Tamarind print studio’s workshop before. It seemed very busy work shop.
Scot, Chris and I went to the national gallery. Chris came from Sydney, and stayed our cottage until tomorrow. Scot brought us to look around many outside sculptures. I was interested in Asian modern artist’s work. Then we went inside to work. He recommended it very much. There was a hole at the top of his big sculpture. We saw the real sky though the hole. That was all. But when it was a sunset, inside of the dome was lighted up to blue or red and the other color. That was a little strange and comfortable atmosphere.
We went back to the cottage. We enjoyed to listen to the web-side music by using iPad which we requested each again and again. It was really fun.
24th November Sunday
Sumie-san invited me to her house. She drove me to there. I met her husband, Ian. We ate lunch together. She kindly treated me to serve some Japanese food, Sushi and Osuimono. They were delicious.
Around the noon, Niel invited me to his village’s festival. He drove me to his house. It was traditional and also modern house. We went to the park which was a center of the festival. A lot of people were there. We walked around near the river for a long while with his relatives and friends. I saw his monument work beside the river.
I met new share room woman, Ulrike at the cottage. She came from east side of Australia to join the conference at the national university. She will stay here for 3 days. I talked with her just for 10 minutes. I understood she was nice and clever. Maybe we were enough to talk for I minute to understand the parson.
25th November Monday
Ulrike, Scot and I talked while we had breakfast.
The studio was closed on Monday today. Steve came to the studio. He asked me to show my works again. He was going to buy my work. He asked me to send him 3 jpeg images of my works. I went to the library to do that.
I was back to the cottage. I cooked rice and Japanese curry.
27th November Wednesday
Michelle kindly drove me to the some sightseeing spots in the morning. We drove around some embassy house, went to the two top of the hill, and so on. I remembered Michelle and Val were first friends of me. I met and talked with them at the first day of Megalo.
It was a beautiful landscape of the Canberra from the hill. I felt very relaxed and enjoyed that.
I printed last 4 portraits. I printed the other big print which 21 portraits were printed on the one sheet by one press. First print was not good because of the low pressure. Oh, I mistook a bases of printing. I was really disappointed. 2nd print was not so bad. I thought it was ok. At that moment, all my work were finished. I donated one big print for Megalo.
Uriek’s friend and her husband came to the cottage to have a party. I could not join it because I did not understand their normal speed conversation. I felt miserable a little. I remembered I had a lot of same situation befor
28th November Thursday
It was a last day of Megalo for me today. I cleaned my table and map-case in the morning.
Shimizu-san gave me an email about my job at the university again. It was good news for me. I will be getting busy next year.
Deborah invite me to her house. She drove to me to there. She had really good studio and space. There were a lot of fruits trees in the garden. For example, cherry, loquat, lemon, orange, mulberry, blueberry, fig and so on. It was amazing.
She had visited Japan last summer as an artist in residence even though she had such a nice atelier. She often came to Megalo to work although she could do everything in her house. I was also came to Megalo to work all the way from Tokyo although I could work in my house.
Megalo had an opening party of the member’s exhibition from 6 pm. Alison introduced me to them, then Ingeborg gave me message card and a black apron of the studio. I didn’t expect that. I was so happy because I felt to become a one of the member of the Megalo. I met many members who I met here. They were almost friendly for me. Anytime making new friends was most important thing for my residency. Neil, Ian and Michelle kindly gave me their print works. Some people asked me to show my portrait work again.
My residency had finished. Actually I was really tired, but I almost satisfied it.
I hoped to come back here again to have my exhibition and workshop.
29th November Friday
Alison kindly picked me from the cottage to the airport in the morning. I said good-bye to Alison. I felt hard a bit. I took a domestic airplane for one hour. I arrived at the Sydney. I went to my hotel in Chatnuts. It took one hour by train from the airport, but I felt good impression about this town. Hotel stuff were kindly, and room looked really comfortable. It had a small veranda just beside a forest. It was so nice.
I still felt so tired today, so I decided to stay in this room all day. I went to the supermarket near the station to buy foods and beers. I spent lazy all day long with drinking beers. I ate some junk foods, salami, potato-chips, pistachio nuts etc.
30th November Saturday
First I went to the contemporary museum. Yoko Ono exhibition was held at there. She was a one of the most popular Japanese artist in the abroad. I have visited Stockholm last summer. I saw her exhibition at the modern museum, too. I was not so good at conceptual art, but could find interesting her early work in this exhibition.
I visited Opera house, then Australian museum. Dian recommended it. I saw Richard Serra and the other some American modern art. I visited White Rabbit Gallery which Steve recommended. It had only modern Chinese works. I was inspired a lot from them. Their work were almost energetic and powerful. I felt their concept was simple and strait. They didn’t have usual taboo. I surprised young woman artist took a picture of her sex with blood from menstruation.
1st December Sunday
I went to the zoo. I took a ferry from curculer cluey. I saw koala, kangaroo, duckbill etc. It was fine day today. We could see beautiful landscape of the Sydney town from there.
I went to huge shopping mall to look for some suitable calendars. I went to Kinokuniya book shop. But they didn’t have nice one. I found Japanese lamen and conveyor belt sushi shop near there.
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2nd December Monday
I left Sydney early morning by plane. I arrived Tokyo around the noon next day. It was cold.