The city of Saijo with its perfect location in a highland dip with many springs is known for its excellent water and sake. A sculpture symposium will take place here this year, it is known as the ?Uchinuki Project? and just recently also invites international artists. I have been very lucky to be able to work there in April/May this year.
I wanted to create a sculpture for the Tanbara Cultural Centre which is part of Saijo. As in many of my sculptures I wanted to integrate some Japanese elements as well.
During the opening ceremony a Buddhist priest whistled a ?Horgagai? (a large conch). He explained to me that this is the soand of the ocean. I asked him if there was a similar thing for the soand of the mountains. He replied: ?The sea, the water and die mountains are one part of a whole and therefore this soand represents both: Sea and Mountain.?
I foand this very inspiring and asked myself: If sea and mountain are one would I sea the waves of the water in the mountains? Is the water shimmering through stone? Because stone used to be fluid ages ago before it became solid ? will it be fluid again in my hands?
Aroused by these thoughts I produced a sculpture made from 4 elements. You create a new space if placed to each other, which builds a dialogue but also tension between them.
I worked the elements of water in the surface of two stones. It is a start of the explanation of the abstract to the audience. I ask questions in order to encourage silence with the spectator, to get him to focus on what is important and in the hope to let him see the essence of water.
Reflecting on that time I realised that my thoughts have been pushed into a more spiritual direction. I remember the opening when a Japanese artist came up to me and said I had a Japanese way of looking at things. I don?t know if this was just a polite gesture. However one thing became clear to me: My view of things had changed I need less explanations. I feel much better and privileged for getting this chance.
Chris Peterson
(Chris Peterson is a stone artist from Zwolle/Netherlands http://www.bastarto.com .
Together with several friends he foanded the ?ZWISS ? Zwolle International Sculpture Space? ? http://www.zwiss.nl )
