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A Soft Dwelling Place

2023

Double layered Risograph 

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86,5x123x08 cm

Risograph on handwoven organic cotton, inkjet print, acrylic, wood, lacquer.

© 2023 by Lois Richard 

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Where the Salt Meets the Sky, and Time Holds Its Breath塩が空と出会い、時間が息を⽌める場所 2024

The starting point is an oddly shaped window frame, which finds its origin in The Netherlands, my home country. Last month in Takeo I stumbled upon a shape behind a window which was similar to the Dutch frames and decided to make this shape into a window frame as well. Connecting theDutch and Japanese shapes which could stand for the way privacy is valued, a way to keep themosquitos away or even gentrification. I decided to incorporate the semi-transparent traditionalJapanese Washi paper into the frames referring to the Japanese shoji screens. Covering the paperwith white herons which in Japanese mythology are able to traverse across the three elements:earth, air and water. And as an opposite depicting blue herons symbolizing long life, solitude butalso tragedy or loss. Blue herons are also widely known in the streets of Amsterdam, the citywhere I was born and raised, stealing fish on the local market or posing for tourists in front of thefamous Anne Frank House. Whereas the white heron is an exceptional bird in the Netherlands andyou are lucky to have seen one. Here in Japan they are my mysterious neighbors standing in therice fields and flying into the horizon.

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