“Ways of Thinking” Cultural Olympiad Exhibitions

June 2–5 & 9–12: Celtic and Eastern cultural exchanges in this global era, offering a point of focus and a shared responsibility. Art that reminds us how we are all connected.

スコットランドと日本。グローバル時代の文化交流。私たちはすべて接続されています。スコットランドカルチュラルトラストアンドラテラルラボは、大阪で「Ways of Thinking」という展覧会を開催します。北加賀屋では、ザブランチ千鳥文化の2つの展覧会があります。

The Branch is working with the Scottish cultural trust, Lateral Lab, to host part of the “Ways of Thinking” cultural exchange program, featuring Japanese and Scottish artists. Here in Kitakagya Creative Village, we present two artists at The Branch, and two artists in collaboration with Chidori Bunka.

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ザ・ブランチ展
Ways of Thinking @ The Branch

2–5 July 2020

The Hague, Netherlands

Nishiko

1981年鹿児島県生まれ(オランダ在住)
2008-2010, Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten(特別プログラム)
2008, Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten(BFA)
2006東京造形大学(BA デザイン)
**
(b. 1981, Japan) Nishiko is a mixed media artist, who has been archiving her own experiences of encountering negative events, mundane norms, or events that are slightly diverged from normality. Through contemplation and investigation, she tries to show intriguing features of subjects by putting emphasis on the opposite of how they are normally seen or treated. nishiko55.com/

On Display

Transit
installation, paper tape, lettering

The colorful paper tapes on a ferry as it sails is a popular ceremony at ports. A side of a tape is hold by a passenger on board, and the other end by a perseon seeing off him/her, it symbolises unity and separation at the same time. Comparing the facade of Branch to a ferry about to sail, the installation suggests arrival of a new time. This installation has been developed during the quiet time of covid-19 pandemic.

Kyoto, Japan & Dusseldorf, Germany

藤井 隆也
Takaya Fujii

1976京都市立芸術大学卒業
1979京都市立芸術大学大学院資格
1995デュッセルドルフクンストアカデミー奨学金(日本文化庁
事務)
1996-98 Konrad Klaphk Dusseldorf Kunst Akademie教授のゲスト学生として招待されました
2012エジンバラ大学名誉研究員
**
(Japan) Takaya’s works has a significance way beyond its role as just art. It bridges the fields of traditional and contemporary Japanese art with western influences, communicating by questioning, making our everyday things become alive. The impermanent beauty of a flower or a tree leaf is often captured in his drawing. Salt is the principal element of purification and longevity for his work. takayafujii.info/

On Display

Salted Leaves
leaves, books, salt

In both Scotland and Japan, the term “leaves” can relate to those of a tree, and also, of a book. In words spoken, heard, and printed, there is another meaning behind the meaning. Perhaps this multitude of meanings was implied when the Scottish urban planner and ecological scholar Patrick Geddes famously wrote “By Leaves we Live.” These moments and meanings are here preserved, in salt.

千鳥文化展
Ways of Thinking @ Chidori Bunka

9–12 July 2020

Edinburgh, Scotland

スティーブン・カヴァナ
Stephen Kavanagh

1986年、スコットランドのカーコーディーに生まれる
2010年グレイズスクールオブアート
2015年のエジンバラカレッジオブアート(MFA)
**
(b. 1986, Kirkaldy, Scotland) Stephen graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 2010, and obtained an MFA degree from Edinburgh College of Art in 2015. His work is predominantly project based, finding materials and methods to suit the subject, often creating performative sculptures that are temporary in nature. His work is a response to things he comes across, creating performative sculptural works that are temporary in nature.
stephenkavanagh.co.uk

On Display

Japan Experiment 67
charred oak and ice

Exploring two elements found in Northern Japan, this piece combines the constant presence of volcanic activity with the large amount of snowfall found in Hokkaido. The charred oak vessels have cracked and distorted with extreme heat and are filled with Ice. The ice, slowly melting, attempts to escape through these imperfections.

Edinburgh, Scotland

メリッサ・ローソン
Melissa Louise Lawson

1989年、スコットランドのエジンバラに生まれる
2011年のエジンバラカレッジオブアート(BArch)
2013年エディンバラカレッジオブアート(MArch)
**
(b. 1989) Melissa is an architect and photographer who studied and currently practices in Edinburgh.  She has a diverse portfolio of architectural projects which focus on placemaking and integrating communities with public architecture.  Her photography work aims to express her interests of the built environment through abstract studies of form, material, light and texture.

On Display

Motion. Still. Time.  
color photographs

Exploration of time in an ever-changing and adapting world. Analysing form, texture and light abstractions through a series of studies both looking inward through a constant pane of glass and looking outward to an environment where time moves without motion.

Access

The Branch | July 2-5, 11:00 – 17:00
〒559-0011 Osaka, Kitakagaya, 2−8−20

千鳥文化 Chidori Bunka | July 9-12, 11:00 – 17:00
〒559-0011 Osaka, Kitakagaya, 5−2−28

What is “Ways of Thinking”?

[SCROLL FOR ENGLISH]

“Ways of Thinking” は、オリンピック運動から “環境と福祉” をテーマに引き出し、若手アーティストの交換プログラムとし、その場所固有の作品の作成やアートパートナーと の介入を含む包括的なマッピングプロジェクトです。 人が地理と環境、持っている相反する傾向をキャプチャーし、新しい理解と実践を生み出し、それが場所と経験を通じてどの ように繋がるかをプロットします。この様な国際文化交流は、芸術を続ける事が困難な時代にますます重要になり、我々は引き続き、個々のアーティストや主催団体の交換プロセ スを可能にし、サポートすることに全力を尽くし、そこらから発展する国際的なネットワークを促進し、強化します。

によって生産:
エリザベスオギルビー&ティムフィッツパトリック、ラテラルラボ
パトリックM.リドン&スヒーカンザブランチ大阪

“Ways of Thinking” brings together artworks from artists with Scottish and Japanese ties, reflecting on the Olympiad themes of inclusion & well-being, technology & innovation, and art in public spaces. Initiated by Scottish environmental artist Elizabeth Ogilvie, along with Tim Fitzpatrick, the project includes 1) an exchange programme for young artists on the themes of environment and wellbeing, and 2) an encompassing mapping project threading across Japan which includes making temporary site-specific works and interventions with arts partners.

The project as a whole will be recorded and published in map form, also available online, designed and accessible for Japanese and English speaking audiences. The map will be a guide-functional and a means of publicising the project- but also an enduring and beautifully designed document of the project.

Ways of Thinking will plot people, places and how we connect through experience, geography and environment, capturing the cross-currents that have, and can, create new understandings and practices.

A total of fourteen artists are involved at locations around Japan including The Branch, Chidori Bunka, Studio Kura and Art Spot Korin.

In this global era threatened by the politics of the worst kind … Ways of Thinking gives us a point of focus and a shared responsibility: art and culture underpin our lives and connect us all.

— Lateral Lab

Though this cultural exchange was nearly canceled due to COVID-19, the artists, organizers, and a few determined galleries have come together to push ahead. It is in difficult times like these that art, and the open exchange it helps facilitate, are of critical importance.

Exhibition Production and Curation (Osaka):
Patrick M. Lydon & Suhee Kang, The Branch

Difficult Decision During COVID-19

このプロジェクトは、Lateral Lab(ラテラルラボ)、Elizabeth Ogilvie(エリザベス・オグリビー)、Tim Fitzpatrick(ティム・フィッツパトリック)が中心となり、2020年東京オリンピックの開催に合わせ、スコットランドと日本との、国際文化交流を目的としたプロジェクトでありました。日本各地で一同に展覧会を通した国際交流を行い、来年2021年はスコットランドで、同様に大規模なグループ展を行う予定でした。 しかし今回のコロナウイルスの影響により、予定していた10数カ所の会場のほとんどが使用不可能となり、現在展示可能な会場のみでの開催となってしまいました。全てを一旦白紙に戻すことも選択肢の中の1つではありましたが、この状況下でこのプロジェクトを実行するという新たな意味、それこそが、我々の“Ways of Thinking”となるはずだという思いを胸に、実現に向けて前進する事を選びました。如何なる時も芸術家は創造する事を止めず、常に考え、その道を探し続けます。

— 川中 政宏, Art Spot Korin

This project was planned to coincide with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including international exchanges and exhibitions throughout Japan and the following year (2021) in Scotland. Due to the influence of the coronavirus however, most of what had been nearly a dozen planned venues became unavailable.

One option was to cancel the project. However, we felt that the new meaning of carrying out this project during such a difficult time in the world, will be our “Way of Thinking”. So the few galleries who could move forward, made the choice to continue in spite of the current conditions.

This is part of the artist’s talent and curse. At any given time, the artist can not stop creating. They are always thinking, and they must somehow, always continue to find the way forward.

— From Co-Organizer, Masahiro Kawanaka, Art Spot Korin, Kyoto

About Lateral Lab

Lateral Lab is a Scottish cultural trust concerned with visual art and environment, established to continue the legacy of Scottish artist Robert Callender through his support of young artists and his lifelong interest and activity in Japan.

See more about the exhibition on the Ways of Thinking Instagram

About The Branch Osaka

Located in the heart of Kitakagaya Creative Village in Osaka, Japan, The Branch Osaka is an ecological art space, pocket farm, and community cafe. Conceived, built, and run by the City as Nature team, we welcome locals, travelers, and visiting artists to explore the nature of sustainability through seasonal exhibitions and workshops.

Support

This exhibition series is produced by Lateral Lab, with support from The British Council and Creative Scotland. The exhibitions in Kitakagaya are curated by The Branch with support from our local partners, Chidori Bunka, and Chishima Foundation for Creative Osaka.


More from The Branch

Enjoy more events and stories from our ecological art space in Osaka: