‘Stepping Stones to Deep Time’, the title of one of my works for the Confluence of North installations also describes the journey that this international exchange project between Scotland and Japan has taken me on. Starting in a time of pandemic lockdown, when travel was impossible, the dialogue between four Scottish artists and four Japanese artists was enabled by zoom and email. This exchange of ideas in the virtual world resulted in a series of four installation exhibitions in the real world – the artworks from each artist being posted to and from Japan and Scotland. In a world which had begun to feel very virtual it was a reminder of how everything exists within our relationships to other things. Interaction is at the heart of life and is always possible.

Participating artists:
SCOTLAND: Kyra Clegg : Su Grierson : Gillian McFarland : Inge Panneels
JAPAN: Maruyama Yoshiko : Maruyama Tokio : Takizawa Tatsushi : Asai Mariko

Exhibitions Scotland: Creative Exchange, Perth : An Lanntair Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Exhibitions Japan: Kitakata, Fukishima : Nishiazu International Art Village, Fukishima