from Malmo
31st July- 16th September 2014, I stay at KKV grafic Malmo, Sweden, as an artist-in-residence.
31st July Thursday
I flied from Narita to Copenhagen from 12 hours. It was hard for me because of my backache. I took Scandinavian airplane. I watched few Japanese movies in the plane. It was not so easy to spend for 12 hours.
I arrived to Copenhagen air port, then I took metro to go to Malmo. After 20 munites, I could moved to Sweden from Denmark. I finally reached to KKV grafic Malmo.
Vera was waiting for me there. She showed me around the studio and guest room and so on. She was modest anf kind. I was really relieved. I met Jebah who came from NY, and also I met Lennart who lives near here.
I was tired, so I went to the supermarket to buy salamis & beers. I know that was bad habit for my body, but I couldn't stop that when I was exhausted. My room is big and almost new. nice!
1st August Friday
I have a heavy jet lug today. Sleepy, feel tired....
I couldn't connect internet from my room. I sometimes have same problem before when I went to Katowice. I don't know why. I asked Anne who is administer of the workshop building to make to have internet connection, but we couldn't do. Anyway I could use internet in the studio, so that was not so big problem.
Vincent was from UK to help his friend's moving. Lena had a white hair and sharp nose. Ellen was blond, spoke by high tone. Jannette came aroune 1 pm. Actually Vera will go to US next Monday. She will be instead of Vera.I have to ask her if I have a trouble.
Vera told me how to make air brush aquatint. I have almost known about non-toxic way. So it was easy to understand.
I didn't start my work yet. I couldn't concentrate it yet.
2nd August Saturday
I was still lazy by reason of jet jug. I didn't work also today.
Yesterday Jannette told me about sauna. Actually I love sauna. When I have visited to Finland before, I have taken really nice sauna which was center of a big lake.
I went to the center of Malmo town by bike before the noon. I remembered my wife and I have visited there 2 years ago. Ms. Minako has drived us around there. I came back here! I saw twisted tower again.
I reached sauna house beside of the sea. I paied 65 Kronas for sauna and 40 Krona for key. I felt strange a bit because all Swedish were naked inside. Of course that was natural. But I have heard that some foreign people couldn't understand Japanese people were naked in the hot spring. I could choose 3 sauna, high or middle or low tempereture. After sauna, we could jump into the sea. What a comfortable that was!
It was getting cloudy, so I left there. But weather changed to the heavy rain, so I got soaked on the bike. I was back to my room, then drunk a beers a lot. My waist was getting fat also today!
3rd August Sunday
In the early morning, it was rainy. But it getting fine weather.
Jeannette invited me to take a bike tour in Malmo yesterday. At 11 am, we took bikes, then she showed me around Malmo town by bike. It was very fine day. The sunshine is a little hard, but air was dry, wind was comfortable. We visited old castle, twisted tower, popular gallery (but closed), church and so on. We took a lunch at the open restaurant which was beside of castle and big park. It was crowded but fortunately we could took seats. I really envied Malmo citizon, because it had big beatuful parks in the center of town.
She often talked about her Japanese trip which was 20 years ago. She have been at the Nagoya Art University to have a work-shop of lino-cut for about one month. She was really talkative and cheerful woman. We ate small shrimp sandwich and drunk Carlsberg.
At the last, I asked her to come to supermarket together. I sked her some recommended foods, because I always buy same foods. For example, salami, bread, egg, sausage, green, instant noodle, rice, pasta. So of course I was getting boring to eat same food for a long while. I actually wanted to try any other good food, but it was not so easy. In addition to I felt strange that I really missed Japanese foods only when I came to abroad. Anyway I will try the other food this time.
4th August Monday
It was rain in the morning. Last midnight, it was really strange weather, heavy rain & much thunders.
I woke up at 7 am. I was ok. I didn't have jet lug anymore. Finally I started my etching work. I couldn’t do that for 4 days. I decided Vera’s portrait design before the noon. I felt happy I could make my work.
Jebah was working in the screen printing today. I met 3 new persons. lived I Malmo before, but he was Berlin now. He said art environment was more exciting in berlin. Yeah, I have to go there. Was photographer. She also sometimes come here. Antje was a contemporary artist. She had workshop at the contemporary museum now. Maybe she was a popular artist. She will go to US next Thursday to have a workshop.
There were always a few sea gulls just next to my room's window. They sang really noisy, like a screaming. I worked until 7:30 pm. I satisfied a bit.
5th August Tuesday
Recently it was rainy every morning. After around the noon, it was getting fine. 2 days ago, it was heavy thunders and rain in the midnight. After that day, I thought it was getting cooler. I couldn’t sleep with only short pants recently.
I met Ellisif. She was a young woman. Her boyfriend and she went to Tokyo before. He had an artist in residence in Ebisu, but I have never heard that, spent 3 months. And I met also Magdolna. She was middle age women. She spoke with a lisp and childish a little.
I tried non-toxic aquatint, spray aquatint. I had to try it a few times, gradually I could manage it. And also I tried asphalt aquatint, but it was not fine. I thought resin aquatint, traditional aquatint, was best way to make dark tone aquatint. I want to finish at least Vera’s portrait until today, but I couldn’t.
6th August Wednesday
I prepared to go to Portugal. I will leave Malmo at around the tomorrow’s noon. I emailed to Nuno and Miriam. I asked then how to go Douro. Actually it was far from Port to Douro, International Printmaking Biennial. I am going to meet my wife at Port. She arrived at Port on evening today.
I went to the studio about the noon. I finally finished Vera’s portrait. I had a phone call from Minako Masui who lived in Malmo. We met each other at Malmo 2 years ago. She drove me to near coffee shop, and we chatted a lot. We also went to the contemporary museum together.
7th August Thursday
Today I went to the Portugal to join the 7the Douro international print biennial.
At about the noon, I left KKV studio. I carried big baggage to Triagelen station by walking. It took about 25 minutes, it was not so easy. I reached to the Copenhagen international airport too early. So gate number was not shown yet. I drank coffee, spent the time really lazy.
I thought I was really boring to wait a plane, also spent the time in the plain. Today again!
I reached Lisbon, then I had to be on the long line to buy train ticket to Porto. I almost gave up to get next train ticket, but I could catch it. I looked for my seat, but young woman was sitting there. Why? I asked her to check her ticket again. She was also tourist, so not so good at Portuguese. But she said her ticker was not wrong. A man who was sitting on next seat, checked our 2 ticket’s date, car nunmer, or seat number. But they looked like same. Oh, that was double booking? But after a while, woman noticed her ticket’s time was wrong. So finally I could sit. Near passengers looked me and smiled a little.
I arrived Port train station. I finally reached at hotel at almost midnight. I met Emi, my wife in the hotel room. We walked around just near the hotel. It was a good location to walk the seaside. Many tourists were there. We took beers and squid fried at the open restaurant. I felt really comfortable
8th August Friday
Emi & I walked around Port town. It was not so big town. We went to the book shop first which was famous for good decoration the inside of. Then we visited old church. We could see really decorative wooden golden alters. That was fantastic. We tried to come inside of Bolsa Palace, but we gave up because guide tour will start 2 hours later.
Mami-san and we met at our hotel. She lived in Port for about 20 years. She kindly drove us to some popular sightseeing spots. First place is sardine restaurant. We ate grilled 10 sardines and a half size squid dish. They were salty and suited to drink beers. We went to contemporary art museum next. It had huge garden and one Arabian painting artist’s exhibition now. I felt it was strange art. We waked around the garden. I saw cork tree at the first time. Then we went to Taylor’s wine factory. We tasted 3 different kind of Port wine. They are sweaty and thick. That was also first experience for me. Mami-san invited us to her house’s party. We met her husband, son and daughter. And her friend who had Japanese restaurant in Port and her daughter. We chatted a lot and had fun very much. 2 daughters were interested in my etching works “friends” well. They asked me about it a lot. I was really happy.
９th August Saturday
My wife and I stayed Mami’s house last night. We took a train from Port to Pinhao in the morning. It took about 3 hours trip. A train run just beside a Douro river. It was a beautiful landscape. This district was popular for vineyard of Port wine. We could see huge vineyard on the slope of the mountain everywhere. We Arrived Pinhao staion. Claudia waited us at there. She picked us from the station by car to Alijo. We arrived the hotel which had a pool. We walked around the cozy town, then took a lunch at the restaurant. It was very fine day.
Nuno came to hotel to pick me up to Coa museum. It took one hour by car. It was on the top of the mountain. We could see great view of Douro River from there. What a fantastic sunset! I started to hang my works “20 visitors” at the Coa museum. After 3 hours I finished that.
10th August Sunday
It was opening day of Douro biennial print exhibition today. Many artists took a same bus to go to Coa museum. We arrived there about 11 am. Emi and I had a coffee outside, and spent for a long while. It was also really fine day. Beautiful blue sky and white clouds. We were relaxed and then took a lunch. We ate fried shrimps with Port wine sauce. It was so delicious.
The conference started at 4 pm. Nuno and other 4 artits talk about printmaking or non-toxic technique etc. Finally the opening started at around 6 pm. A lot of people asked me about my works. I was glad to talk about my concept or something. I met some nice artists. I spent really precious time.
After that we took dinner with other artists at the museum restaurant. I chatted with Dutch, Costa Rican, Canadian, Norwegian and Portuguese artists.
11th August Monday
Emi and I went to the super market, and bought 10 packs of candy for souvenir. Then we took a lunch at the cozy restaurant. We ate octopus tempura and octopus rice. Good.
We left Alijo by bus at 3 pm. We reached to Port again, then took the bullet train to Lisbon. We reached our hotel at about 11 pm.
12nd August Tuesday
We walked around the Lisbon town. First we took tram to visit Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. Unfortunately it was really crowded inside of tram. It was so hot and humid like a sauna. We reached there and found really long line to buy a ticket. I was so disappointed. We saw beautiful cloister. We took many photos at there. Then we went to the national museum. Actually we didn’t have enough time, so I saw only Bosch, Durer, and Cranach’s paintings which guide book recommended.
We visited small printmaking studio “Acua Forte” which Mami-san recommended. It was near national museum. I met Fatima. She was also printmaking artist. She was a center of Port Print Association. And Joan. He spoke Japanese a bit. He had often come to Japan to have exhibition. He will have solo exhibition in Tokyo on fall next year.
We were going to listen Fado today, but gave up that because we were tired.
13th August Wednesday
My wife and I went to Lisbon airport early morning. I said good-bye to Emi in front of the check-in counter, then I took a plane to come back to Sweden. She will keep to stay in Lisbon more 2 nights.
12 years old boy was next to my seat. He was really talkative boy. We chatted all the time in the plane. He had visited Brazil because his father lived there. But he was now on the way to come back to his hometown by alone, Norway which his mom and sisters lived. He loved to play snowboard. It was first experience for me to talk with next seat person for a long while. Anyway actually in-flight meal was bad. He didn’t eat any foods except dessert.
I came back to Malmo, KKV graphic in the evening. Vera told me Minako-san invited me to her party tonight. Actually I hesitated to go because I was so tired. But I joined it. I met 2 Minako’s friends, Japanese man and Chinese women. We had a barbecue in the yard from the evening to the midnight. She prepared very juicy beef meat, it was delicious. We drank wine or whisky much. It continued until 2 am!
14th August Thursday.
I took a rest all day long. I went to sauna again.
I spent lazy.
１５th August Friday
I slept well last night. I woke up at 10 am. I was fine. I took a bike to look for art materials shop. I went to center of Malmo, and I found it. I bought a scraper as a souvenir. I am not sure it was useful or not.
A lot of people walk around the street, because today and tomorrow was the festival of Malmo town. Too much people were crouded, so I couldn’t take a bike through them. Around the noon, I started Jeannette’s portrait, but didn’t finish yet.
Anyway I found the magazine “Grafiknytt” in the studio which was issued by Swedish print association. Actually the editor was Bjorn who was organizer of Algarden. I visited there 2 years ago as an artist in residence. He passed away last year. He wrote some articles about me on it. I really appreciate him. I never forget him.
１６thAugust Saturday
Today it was festival in Malmo town. I went to the center of Malmo. First I visited Gertrud Alfredson’ opening party. It was recommended by Minako. She said he was a popular artist in Sweden. I was interested in his works well, especially in human’s drawing. It looked like similar of Hundertwasser a bit.
I looked around by bike. I found a lot of different country’s food booths. People were walking around everywhere. It was really crowded also today. I chose “fish & chips” because I remembered traveling in UK before.
It was cold today. A few people were already taking thick jacket. But sunshine was still hot.Oh please keep warm weather until I will go back to Japan.
I was back to the studio. I almost finished Jeannette’s portrait.
１７thAugust Sunday
It was rainy all day long. It was getting cold recently like autumn. Please hot again! Get back summer! I wake up 9 am, but I could not start my work immediately. I felt alone bit. I looked for free internet TV on website. But I could not handle it.
I started to work at 11 am. I boiled rice in a small rice cooker. Then I cooked fried rice with pickled vegetable. Omm, it was nice.
A studio was empty except me. Vera came about 4 pm. We chatted for a while with a coffee. She did her work, monotype print. It was first time for me to see that.
18th August Monday
It was sunny day in the morning. I couldn’t sleep well, so I wanted to go to sauna today. But around the noon, it was heavy rain like a squall. Vera and Jeannette came. I showed Jeannette’s portrait etching to her, but she didn’t seem to be happy.
At about 3 pm, sunshine came back, so I went outside to go to sauna by bike. It was strong wind. I barely arrived there, it almost started squall. I took sauna third times. I liked to chat with naked parson in the sauna room. A heavy rain came again outside. then sunshine came again. At that time we saw beautiful double circle rainbow. I thought it was good chance to take a photo of inside of sauna in addition to rainbow.
１９thAugust Tuesday
I went to Form Design Center. I sometimes lost my way to go there. I thought it was small show. I bought Chinese dumpling and Japanese instant noodles at an Asian grossery shop. I also bought high alcohol beers and wine for good sleep.
Jebah, Vera, , , Jukka, , and I worked in studio today. Jebah said that he will leave here within one week. I have to make his portrait soon.
20th August Wednesday
Vera called Kiki’s mobile, and we talked by phone. It was long time no see. I asked her about my visiting Algarden. I decided to go there next Wednesday. I have to book bus ticker soon.
I asked Juan to draw his portrait, and he accepted my offer.
I was making Fatima’s portrait.
Very fine day today. I really wanted to go sauna today. At about 4 pm, I left the studio to go to modern museum first. It has Picasso’s exhibition. Anyway this museum was not so big. The exhibition was not so good, sorry. I arrived to sauna again. Actually it was heavy wind so not so easy to reach there. Maybe I loved sauna. I was under the sunshine by naked for a long while. It was so comfortable and relaxed.
I almost finished Fatima’s portrait. It was not bad, ummm good!
21st August Thursday
I felt dull.
Emma, Eva, Wols(?), Jukka were in the studio. I felt tired and alone. I ate instant noodle for the lunch as usual, then I started Jebah’s portrait.
I went to Malmo museum and library. The museum was not good, sorry. A library was nice. I remembered Canberra’s library. It was also nice. I didn’t feel fine today.
22nd August Friday
I went to sauna again. In the sauna, a man came & talked to me. He noticed me as an artist from Japan. We have talked last time. Anyway he said there was a kind of perfume or something now. We entered lowest temperature room. I surprised many people were crowded in the small sauna room. There were a few women in them! I smelled the lemon or peppermint or something. It was very nice. A stuff poured essential water on the sauna stones. Then much stream were happened. A man fan the towel to send the hot stream to us. Oh. What a nice! A hot streams were over to us! I just remembered about Finland. At that time people used a branch to sprinkle hot water. It was too hot for me. I didn’t know about this event. But we could see beside the entrance about this information. I will come here for having this event next time.
Anyway I have thought it was only Japanese custom that men and women took a bathe together. But there were almost same custom in here, Europe. That was really unexpected thing. I want talk about that similar custom with Swedish people.
23rd August Saturday
Vera and I went to the 2 opening exhibition by bike also today. 1st one was small clay tools of car performance. I couldn’t understand that was art or just goods. 2nd one was woman’s solo exhibition near Twist tower, really expensive area. Big or small paintings and sculptures. A woman who were using vacuum cleaner was drawn in all her works. That was funny a bit.
Jukka, Juan and his friend, Magdolna and Jebah. Jebah was the last day of the studio. He will be back to US. I said good-bye to him. I promised I will send him his portrait etching later. He was not like an American guy. He was quite a bit.
I started final print of 5 friend’s portraits, Jebah, Vera Jeannette, Fatima and Ellisif. I printed 2 sheets of each. I barely finished 5 portraits. That was too small.
24th August Sunday
It was Sunday today. It was quiet everywhere.
In the morning, the studio was empty. But Bernardo came to work. I asked him to make his portrait. Actually he spoke only Swedish, so I had a gesture to talk to him. I thought he accepted my offer.
Recently the weather was fickle. Very fine then rain then fine…. I went to sauna again. It was very fine when I went there by bike, but on the way to back to the studio, suddenly weather was changed. I soaked to the skin, in addition to the strong wind. I felt cold very much although after sauna.
I finished Juan’s portrait. I didn’t satisfy it, but I didn’t have much time.
25th August Monday
I am very fine in the morning. I slept well last t night. I asked 3 persons to make new friend’s portrait, Anna, Jukka and Susanne. Anna was a young women, administer of this building. Jukka was popular mezzotint artist. When I asked Susanne, she explained the meaning of her name, lily and silver arch. It was good advantage to make her portrait. At about 3 pm, I felt tired, so took a nap. I went to the supermarket to get some foods and alcohol. Actually a liquor, I mean over 3.5% alcohol drink, were really expensive. I thought tax was heavy in it.
I will have artist talk at 4th next month.
26th August Tuesday
Minako and I took a lunch together at Kunsthall’s restaurant. We chatted a lot about my residency or other things. She recommended to go outside. She suggested me to visit Lund town and Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen again. I forgot about that museum. My wife & I have visited there before. We saw fantastic location museum and nice Kusama’s installation. I decided to go there again.
After that I went to sauna also today. It was really nice weather today. Not so windy, I felt warm and comfortable under the.sun.
Back to the studio, I met a guy, with a lot of mustache. He wanted to go to Japan, to get a job of graphic design. He used to work in Ikea before. I told him Ikea was gradually popular recently in Japan. He said I gave him a good idea.
２７thAugust Wednesday
I went to Algarden today.
I wake up 7;30, then took a breakfast. I walked to Malmo central station. It took 35 minutes. I noticed that walking was important for health. I didn’t walk recently so much. In Tokyo, I walked a lot. I took a bus to go to Goteborg. It took 3 hours to get there. I took a Sushi lunch, then walked around the town. I went to the museum again, but I had no time to enter. I just came back to the bus station. To the Boras, it took one hour by bus. Kiki came to pick me up from Boras station. I arrived Algarden. I felt really nostalgic, the location, I mean the studio was just beside the river. And also studio was in the forrest, and so on. I have stay there for one month 2 years ago as an artist in residence. I started new series “friends” from here. It was small studio, but I had many good memories. Kiki drive me to the textile museum to see sculpture festival. We could see new big or small sculpture around there. She left Algarden about 7 pm. After that I walked around Kanerelland town near there. I felt also really nostalgic for super market , Boas sucker stadium, and a corner of shopping mall which I drew Urban’s portrait. It was the first portrait of the series “friends”. I came back to the studio, I met Torbjorn. He remembered me, and I am also.
I was happy to come back here. I met Kiki & Torbjorn again, except Bjorn. Bjorn was passed away last January.
２８th August Thursday
I woke up by noisy sound at about 8 am. A few people were cutting trees or branches by chainsaw just beside my cottage room. I gave up to keep sleeping, then looked outside. I saw Lennard was walking forward to the studio. I called to Lennard from the window. I saw him after an interval of 2 years. We talked a lot. He was 80 years old, farmer, and amateur artist. He showed me his many latest monotype print works. He gave me one print. Actually 2 years ago, I made his portrait and gave him one sheet of print. He said it was give and take. A people who I met at the studio always showed me their works first. That was a good way of introduction of themselves. Maybe I also should do so.
Kiki came. Christina also came. She finished her part time job yesterday. So she could concentrate her print work from today. Actually she was reading my blog which I was writing about staying in Malmo.
Kiki and Lennard and I went to the museum together. I was not interested in special exhibition, but I could find some nice works in the permanent exhibition. We took a lunch together at the museum restaurant. It was fine day. We stay at outside table for Kiki’s smoking. We chatted for a while, I had no time to leave here. I said good bye for them and took a bus to go to Gorteborg.
I reached to the Gorteborg, then had to change the bus to go to Malmo. I had 1.5 hours, but I didn’t walk around the town again. I took a coffee and did internet there. The bus delayed 15 minutes, finally it reached to theMalmo station after 4 hours.
I almost satisfied this short trip. Because I could see Kiki, Christina and Lennard. And also I felt really nostalgic when I walked around the Kanrelland town. Algarden was a kind of starting point for me to try the artist in residence.
See you Algarden, not good-bye.
２９th August Friday
Cloudy day. In the morning, no one came the studio except me. I ate instant noodle at lunch as usual. “Takana” pickles, Emi brought from Japan, was really good. I often cooked rice by small rice cooker which I brought from Japan. It was also really useful. I only need hot rice and Japanese pickles. That was enough for me. From the noon, Jonas came. He gave me his solo exhibition information card. But the opening will be 13th September. I will be not here at that time. It was pity.
I went outside to buy instant noodle at the Chinese grocery shop. On the way to the studio, it was rain. And my bike punctured. Oh, I was soaked and miserable.
There was art student’s opening at my building. I watched that, I couldn’t understand their works.
30th August Saturday
Rain, all day.
Recently I did stretching exercise a bit because of backache. It was getting well.
I went to the bike shop to receive my flat bike. A guy said he changed tube. I paid 150 krone. I bought basil paste, bread and beers. I took a bike with umbrella.
In the studio, Junas, and his girlfriend Sara? And Juan. I chatted with Juan. He was friendly. His daughter will get married next week. He gave me small apples which he grew them by organic nature in his garden. He will have exhibition in Costa Rica, Mexico and then Argentine. I asked him about artist in residence in Argentine. He said, “If you help me, I help you.”
I almost finished Susanne’s portrait. Her name was Susanne Silverbage. Susanne meant lily. Silverbage meant silver arch.
31st August Sunday
It was heavy rain and cold today. It continued all day. It was heavier than yesterday. It sometimes thunder. Actually I was going to visit Lund town today, but gave up. When I went outside to go to the studio in the morning, it was flood a little the parking space.
Sunday, heavy rain, no one was in the studio except me. Around the noon, Vera came and said, “I worried about you because of heavy rain.” A few years ago, the building which I stayed at, was flooded above the floor, then the elevator didn’t work. So she went outside to check the elevator. She came back and said, “Elevator doesn’t work. I unlocked the key of stairs, you are able to be back by climbing the stairs.” I was really relieved. If Vera didn’t come and check the elevator, I might not be able to come back my room tonight.
I made Jukka’s portrait. I almost finished it.
1st September Monday
Fine day! I decided to go to Lund town because Minako recommended again. I walked to the Triangeln station, then took the train. Next second station was Lund. It took about only 15 minutes. MInako have driven my wife and I there 2 years ago. So I remembered big church made by stones and underground of it.
At first, I went to the Info, and got a recommendable sightseeing walking course on the map. It was very useful because I could see almost important spots in this town, museums supermarket, restaurants, universities and so on. I noticed many students walked around and took a bike everywhere. So we felt Lund was lively town. It was cozy and beautiful. It looked similar to Bruges in Belgium. I walked around about for 2 hours, then took a lunch at Thai restaurant. I left there at about 1 pm. I also recommended Lund town very much.
I came back to my building which I stayed. The elevator still didn’t work. Much water were underground by flood. Someone drew the water from there by tube. It was not so easy.
I finished 5 portraits. Tomorrow I will print them finally.
2nd September Tuesday
I dicided to do final print today. Actually I had an enough time to make one more portrait, but I wanted to be relieved earlier. I made portrait at least 10. My aim was reached.
I printed portrait of Jukka, Bernardo, Susanne, Anna and Juan every 2 sheets by Chine-colle. And I put 10 plates on the bed plate of press machine, then pressed one time. I printed 2 large prints, “friends-Malmo.”
3rd September Wednesday
I went to the Luisiana Museum. It was beyond the Copenhagen, it took 1.5 hour by train. We, my wife and I have been there 2 years ago, too. Very fine day. It was really crowded by elementary, junior high and high school students. I saw Emile Nolde special exhibition, then took a lunch althoght a bit early. It had really nice location, ocean view from the museum restaurant. What a fantastic! I could see beautiful ocean beyond the Henry Moore’s big sculpture. The sunshine was still strong, but the wind from the sea was cool. I felt really comfortable. I sat at the tetras of the restaurant for a long while. I couldn’t leave there. I visited Jacomette’s room again. In the special exhibition, Olfur Eliasson, we could see river in it. I mean real river were running through a ton of soils brought from Iceland. It was interesting, really interesting, but I didn’t feel more.
I left the museum at about 3 pm. I visited Copenhagen again. I walked around the same places which we did so 2 years ago. Then I walked into just next the street from the popular one. It was good atmosphere. I could find cozy bar which was crowded by local people. I also found maniac gallery, book shop and craft shops, and so on. There were many student because colleges were near there. It was fun just walking around without the purpose.
4th September Thursday
I went to the sauna in the morning. When I bought the ticket, the reception staff said that it was not allowed to swim in the sea was not allowed today. I asked him, why. He said, big tanks fallen down by the last heavy rain, so sea was polluted by bacteria. I remembered many sea gulls were just near the seaside today. That was concerned from pollution, maybe.
I had “ARTIST Talk“ from 6 pm in the studio. About 20 people came to join it. I gave my portraits works to some friends. They seemed to be almost glad, I thought. I didn’t feel so nervous to talk by English about my work, because I did a few times before. I remembered, at the first experience, I used to be very nervous. I couldn’t sleep well. Anyway I explained about 3 series of the work,” 20 visitors”, “100 faces“ and “Friends” as usual. At the beginning, I had a nervous stammer a little, but I gradually talked smoothly. At the last, I told about the some episodes to draw friend’s portrait. Visitors seemed to be interested in them. Some people laughed a bit. After the talking, we took a small party with salads, crackers, cheeses, sausages and wine. I chatted a lot, because I finished my big job. That was nice party!
5th September Friday
I cleared my room and acid room of the studio. It took for long time to finish, I didn’t expected that. Jeannette said to me good bye. I passed her Japanese souvenir “sensu”. She said it fit me because she was always sweaty. We laughed together. I met Carl in front of Monument Studio. He asked me the price of my Friend work. I carelessly told the wrong price. He gave me his sculpture art book. I went to the center of the Malmo town to buy souvenir for my wife. I bought a sweater and some calendars.
6th September Saturday
I couldn’t sleep well last night. I awaked too early, I didn’t have anything to do. Actually I worried about by backache because I had to sit narrow airplane seat for 12 hours today. I researched how to prevent a backache on the website. I found some useful ways, so I was relieved a bit.
I cleaned my resident room. I moved to the studio. I returned the keys to Vera and then said good bye. I left the studio finally.
I departed from Copenhagen airport at about 3 pm. I often did exercise while long flight, so fortunately I didn’t get heavy backache this time.
Tokyo was not hot, but humid.