Joya: AiR / Yukiko Ogawa / JPN

“Since last year I have been working on my project related to animal bones using photography and drawing, inspired by archaeology, however, I started feeling as if I was not confident of further direction to where my works and research should be developed. Before my residency, I wished to explore the project during my stay, but not exactly sure how. On the first day of my residency, occasionally I found a fragment of animal bones around the residence, which was so inspiring to me, and decided to set a routine of my stay.

During my stay, I had a walk a lot every morning, setting an aim but not so strict- finding animal bones in the natural environment. On walks I started collecting not only animal bones but stones as well. Morning sunlight, sounds of birds, insects, wind, aromatic air, and so on...Walks stimulated all the senses of my body. Whiteness in the environment struck me deeply. Here the soil is white, shining as pure white by sunlight. I found such whiteness even harsionary. Then, I got an idea in my mind to make an all white installation. The residency has a studio where you can work with clay. I gathered natural clay from the soil, mixed water and made a clay which was also white. Then I made an installation with objects made of clay and found animal bones, and documented it by photography and video. For me, who primarily works with photography, documenting the installation and the environment was not new. What struck me was its processes. By gathering natural clay, making clay, and creating objects and the installation, being conscious of all the making process, the tactileness remained in my body. Having such sense, now I have a better vision of where to move further my project. I also spent time drawing the found bones. Drawing with a slower tempo allows me to analyse and admire their details. I found there nature, the earth, and animals. They are non-humans, but they are living things and our life is among those things.

My residency allowed me to find the making process and the total physical experiences during the entire period. Further I develop my practices by knowing tactility.

I appreciate Simon and Donna for taking care of the artists and the great time in my residency. The life in the residency is so creative and inspiring. Chatting with other inspiring artists, hand-made slow dinner, eating well and sleeping well.. There's nothing superfluous but it's got everything”.

Yukiko Ogawa

Simon Beckmann19 September 2025