This exhibition is a result of a cultural exchange between young artists of Kagawa and Hexham.

 

Kagawa, located in the southern part of Japan, is the smallest prefecture in the country. This summer, eleven students from Kagawa Junior College flied across the globe to visit England for the first time with their teacher to attend a summer art school organised by Northumbria University. During the two-week course, these young artists learnt drawing and printmaking in a British art school environment.

 

Meanwhile, their teacher, Nobuko Hamano, visited Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham, to lead a workshop of Eastern ink drawing for the young students. Holding an Eastern brush for the first time, these young people learnt to draw in harmony with their breathing.

 

The Japanese students were very much impressed by the beauty and tranquillity of the North East and moved by the kindness and humour of its people. To show their appreciation for the warm support they received from all the people involved, and to commemorate their visit to Hexham, they presented the Hexham General Hospital with two of the artworks produced during their stay.

 

 

Poyan Yee

Artist-curator

December 2007