Invisible scapes
An exhibition by Ai Sasaki, Wellington Asia Residency Exchange Programme artist-in-residence
20–28 November 2008, Toi Pōneke Gallery
Watch Ai Sasaki at work from 1–3pm and 4–7pm from 20–21 November and 10-4pm on 24 November. All welcome.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre
61 Abel Smith Street
Te Aro, Wellington
Gallery hours: 9am–7pm, Monday–Friday
About the exhibition:
Invisible scape is a series of landscapes influenced by the plants and patterns that Ai has discovered during her time in New Zealand. Using royal icing, a hard white icing made with icing sugar and egg whites, Ai makes intricate landscapes made all the more astonishing to the viewer when the medium of their construction is revealed. After a work is completed, it is erased and vanishes, so that the landscape returns into the memories of the people who viewed it. Ai is interested in the way in which our daily surroundings are informed by things invisible to the eye: the air, time and temperature but also the energy of other living things. In Invisible scape, Ai attempts to preserve, albeit momentarily, those landscapes that cannot be seen.
An exhibition by Ai Sasaki, Wellington Asia Residency Exchange Programme artist-in-residence
20–28 November 2008, Toi Pōneke Gallery
Watch Ai Sasaki at work from 1–3pm and 4–7pm from 20–21 November and 10-4pm on 24 November. All welcome.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre
61 Abel Smith Street
Te Aro, Wellington
Gallery hours: 9am–7pm, Monday–Friday
About the exhibition:
Invisible scape is a series of landscapes influenced by the plants and patterns that Ai has discovered during her time in New Zealand. Using royal icing, a hard white icing made with icing sugar and egg whites, Ai makes intricate landscapes made all the more astonishing to the viewer when the medium of their construction is revealed. After a work is completed, it is erased and vanishes, so that the landscape returns into the memories of the people who viewed it. Ai is interested in the way in which our daily surroundings are informed by things invisible to the eye: the air, time and temperature but also the energy of other living things. In Invisible scape, Ai attempts to preserve, albeit momentarily, those landscapes that cannot be seen.
About the artist:
Born in 1976, Ai Sasaki graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Design from Kanazawa College of Art in 2001 and has had a number of solo exhibitions in Osaka. Ai Sasaki was selected for the WARE programme on the advice of Japanese curator Hisako Hara.
About the residency:
About the residency:
During her three month stay (8 September – 4 December 2008), Ai has been living at the Bolton Street Cottage and working each day in her studio at Toi Pōneke. WARE is an exciting new initiative which is forging important creative and cultural links between Wellington and the Asian region. Japanese artist Ai Sasaki is the third artist in the Wellington Asia Residency Exchange (WARE) programme. WARE programme organised by Wellington City Council in partnership with Asia New Zealand Foundation.
For more information please contact Frances Speer, Arts Advisor, City Arts, Wellington City Council, frances.speer@wcc.govt.nz or 803 8711
