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OUR WORK

Our Endless
Yearning for Japan
Panel conversation

Artist

Michelle Belgiorno

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Presenter

Art Atrium

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Panellists

Michelle Belgiorno (exhibiting artist)
Kathryn Hunyor (moderator)
Relle Mott
Warwick Johnson
Lotte Lawrence

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Date

Saturday 15 June 2024

To celebrate the solo exhibition ‘Shadows of Time’ by Australian artist Michelle Belgiorno, a panel discussion was held at Art Atrium.

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The five panelists explored the topic of their shared experience in relation to Japan – their ‘endless yearning’ for the country that has occupied them intellectually, linguistically and creatively for most of their lives.

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Exhibiting artist Michelle Belgiorno was a Rotary exchange student to Japan at age 17, completed a BA Honours in Japanese and a Master of Commerce, and a BA Fine Arts in Painting from the National Art School. A practising artist for 25 years, her work often deals with Japan and has earned her a place as finalist in many prizes including The Mosman, The Paddington, The Kings and The Portia Geach Portrait Prizes.

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Relle Mott studied Japanese including an exchange year at Keio University, and also studied architecture and fine arts. She has a broad and creative career working in language teaching, public programs and horticulture. She is very involved in particular with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.​

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Lotte Lawrence completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Japanese and Fine Arts, her main interest being early modern Japanese art, popular culture and clothing in Japan. She ran a vintage kimono shop in Kyoto during the 80s, and is now a translator, specialising in contemporary art and fashion.

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Warwick Johnson has a degree in Japanese and economic history from Melbourne University, including a year at Keio University, and has worked in funds management in Asia for many years, 11 of them in Japan.

 

ArtsPeople Director and Japanese-speaking curator Kathryn Hunyor moderated the conversation, drawing out the panellists’ varied experiences and connections to art: Michelle as a practising artist; Relle through her studies and as a potter and cultural tour leader; Lotte as a specialist arts translator; and Warwick through his involvement with the VisAsia group at the AGNSW.

 

Talking about their ‘life with Japan’, the conversation spanned the ‘yearning’ they all feel, the idea of nostalgia that Japan celebrates and constantly invokes, and their fears and hopes for Japan’s future.​

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