A short series of talks, events and performances is being presented at the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness this week to highlight Japanese art and culture. The events will also be an opportunity for people to hear first had accounts of the earth quake and tsunami and their disastrous aftermath that hit the North East of Japan in March.

Professors Masayuki Yasuhara and Yoshihisa Nakano perform with NOVAIA LIUSTRA – “new chandelier” in Russian – developing multi-faceted expressive forms that go beyond the boundaries of fine arts and music. Through exploring the use of the Theremin, an early electronic musical instrument, and ionization, the group aim to develop fresh forms of art and sound. The artists, who are regular visitors to Scotland, are travelling to Orkney to find out more about renewable energy.

The artists commented on their trip. “We are researching the revitalisation of the community, urban or rural, through joining the practice of art and architecture in a sustainable way. In Japan we have the issue of clean energy supply and how to develop new systems. As artists we have to think about this. We are very much interested in using Orkney as a case study.”

Masayuki Yasuhara, originally from Fukushima, is a musicologist with a specialization in Russian music history. He graduated from Tokyo National University of Arts, and subsequently received a Rotary Fellowship to continue his studies at Indiana University, USA, where he studied both musicology and organ. He has given papers at various professional conferences including the International Shostakovich Conference in Glasgow in 2000.

Yoshihisa Nakano studied art at Tokyo University of Arts. He spent the year 1994-95 at the Templehill Community near Aberdeen for people with disabilities as a facilitator. Since then he has developed a strong belief in the potential abilities of human beings, and has created a number of works that suggest invisible relationships between things and people.

NOVAIA LIUSTRA will give an informal performance and talk at the Pier Arts Centre on Friday 23 September 2011 at 7.30pm.

Next week on Wednesday 28th September will see a day long installation of work by Takahiro Kondo in the gallery as well as a talk about the artist’s work in the evening.

Takahiro Kondo is from Kyoto and spent his early years as a champion table tennis player, representing Japan abroad at a number of international events. He graduated from the Literature Department, Hosei University, Tokyo, and only began making ceramics in 1985 after the premature death of his uncle made him reconsider his direction in life.

The artist comes from a great tradition of potters in Japan – his grandfather, Yuzo Kondo, was awarded the honour of National Living Treasure for his work in the sometsuke tradition (blue and white porcelain).

A frequent visitor to Scotland, he came to Orkney for the first time during a period of study at the Edinburgh College of Art, where he was learning to cast glass. Already recognized for his original silver mist glaze, a combination of precious metals and frit used to represent various states of water, the artist found particular inspiration from Scara Brae and in the totemic power of the standing stones in Orkney. This led to the creation of large scale sculptural works, the ‘Orkney Series’.

Originally inspired by the four elements (earth (clay), water, fire and wind (air)) as the foundation of nature, water soon became the dominant theme in his work. Most recently, his focus has been on drawing attention to the risks inherent in failing to protect our essential natural resources, and the imbalances brought about in the 20th century as a result of worldwide economic imperatives focused on competitive advantage, greed and the accumulation of wealth at the expense of a sustainable way of life.

The installation of work by Takahiro Kondo will be on display at the Pier Arts Centre from 10.30 am – 5 pm on Wednesday 28 September 2011 and the talk will take place that evening at 7.30 pm.

All the artists taking part in the Japanese season wish to reflect on the devastating events in Japan this year by presenting a creative and hopeful response to people in Orkney.

The events continue the Pier Arts Centre’s relationship with visiting artists and academics making research visits to Orkney. In recent years, the Centre has been active in fostering links with other organisations and institutions, including Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal Scottish Academy, as well as individual artists whose research activity focuses on landscape, environment and the emerging renewables industry based in Orkney.

All events are free.

Meanwhile in the Pier Arts Centre, the lamp in the seaward window – the art of Sylvia Wishart continues until 5 November 2011. The Pier Arts Centre is open Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm. Admission is free.