H-AIR Monthly Report - June / Daniel Wesseik
A Month in Hiroshima
So, It's been one month at the H-AIR residency. An incredible month filled with inspiring encounters and unforgettable experiences. Here’s a glimpse of what I / we've been up to:
Caption: My name in Japanese - fun to see!
Hi Hiroshima
From the start, we felt embraced and welcomed, especially by Shizuka, our wonderful host and go-to person. Our journey began with a welcome dinner with the students of Hijiyama University, where we received a charming folder full of recommendations for things to do in Hiroshima. We also enjoyed a rooftop party, connecting with the local art community. It was a delightful evening of positive conversations and new contacts.
Presentations and screenings
Throughout the month, we had several opportunities to present our work to students and the public. These ranged from brief presentations to in-depth presentations and a full cinema screening followed by a Q&A session. We also met the university president, the animation season team, and participated in interviews for the local press. Ten years ago, I might have felt anxious about such events, but with age comes a certain calmness (or perspective?), and I genuinely enjoyed the attention and interactions.
Visiting Hiroshima
June has been mostly dedicated to getting to know this very different culture. For me it is the first time visiting Japan, so I took the time here to explore the city on bike and foot, and to see temples and parks around, at times alone and at times with Britt and Sujin.
Caption - Shot taken in the magical Mitaki Dera temple in Hiroshima
It took me a while to adjust to the food and find my rhythm. Unfamiliar textures and combinations often left me craving a familiar meal at the end of the day. Combined with the huge time difference compared to the Netherlands, I experienced a slow start and it affected my health for a few days. Fortunately, I was able to tune in a healthy routine, balancing culinary adventures with home cooking of familiar and probably not very Japanese dishes.
Caption: unfamiliar textures and combinations
I came to Japan curious about its typography and lettering. It was/is very enjoyable to find these typographic gems in expected and least expected spots.
Workshops
It was also great to have a few inspiring encounters with students and teachers from Hijiyama university.
I / We had several inspiring encounters with students and teachers from Hijiyama University.
One highlight was attending a silk printing workshop led by the renowned Suna. The students were incredibly helpful, assisting with every step of the process. At the end, we received the glyphs as a gift - So kind!
A few days afterwards I attended a calligraphy session with the students. We practiced some brush strokes and they explained and demonstrated the different kinds of brush strokes.
Caption: reviewing the results and findings at the apartment
It was very cool to see my name written in Japanese. It is like seeing a new side of yourself that you didn’t know existed. I felt like repaying them by writing their names in my native tongue.
Caption: Can you recognize it?
Additionally, I had a Japanese language lesson with Jun, the university’s vice-president. It was a great first deep in the water and into making a first step into decoding these intricate symbols that are the Japanese language.
Japanese typewriter
From the beginning of the trip I made some attempts to get my hands on a Japanese typewriter.
This turned out to be quite a rare item, and the ones that seemed to be available (online) were out of use.
I had already started to recalculate my plan and look for alternatives, when one day, after presenting our work at the university, I was called to the office and there, next to the window, a green, huge, beautiful Japanese typewriter was waiting. I am so very thankful to Shizuka for the surprise and arrangement and also to her colleague who had heard me talk about my wish to obtain a typemachine in one of the talks.
I wasn’t the only one who was surprised, as for the other members of the university, it was also the first time gazing at a Japanese typewriter.
The first attempt of placing an ink ribbon on it was unsuccessful, but with the kindness of Shizuka who purchased more ink and the help of Britt - I managed to get it working!
Artistic development / project
The first few weeks were spent experimenting with various materials, capturing impressions of the city with my analogue camera. This trip provided an opportunity to explore and learn the intricacies of analogue photography, even though the results were often overexposed.
Caption: Some of the photos I took
I love to experiment with new tools and techniques. I took the opportunity to try out an AI tool called Luma to create videos from the photos I took. I'm still figuring out how to integrate it into my work process,, but the results are fascinating, also with their uncanniness.
I was debating between developing a larger-scale project and pursuing the project I initially applied with. During a mentor talk with Shizuka Miyazaki and Koji Yamamura, they advised me to use this time to delve deeper into research rather than rushing to complete a project. This advice gave me the mental space to explore and reflect more thoroughly.
I visited museums and libraries, delving into Japanese modern art and folk tales. Inspired by a conversation at the rooftop party, Britt and I visited the MoCA Museum in Hiroshima, which left a lasting impression with its local artist exhibitions.
I am one of three participants in the H-AIR residency, and a significant part of this month has been the time spent with Britt and Sujin. It has been an honor to share this experience with these two talented artists, and I was very thankful (and relieved) to find out that they’re also fun and lovely to spend time with. Having Shizuka around as well was a huge bonus! On one occasion, Britt initiated and led a zine-making session for our projects, which was extremely valuable. I shared some of my knowledge about AR in preparation for the exhibitions planned for the coming months.
Looking Ahead
This month has been rich with new impressions, encounters, and inspirations. July promises to be a month of creativity, implementing what I’ve experienced and decided, and perhaps figuring out how to ship my new typewriter across the world. As long as there is enough ink in the typewriter and enough onigiri in the fridge, I’m all set to continue this incredible journey.