pocket world

Pocket

world 2009-

Sayaka Abe

What is a pocket? A pocket is an inti-mate space, something that makes me comfortable for instance if I am shy or nervous I put my hands in my pockets and I can feel this comfort anytime any-where. It is your own small private space. I think people have their own fantasy within it and you can carry it with you everywhere you go. I explored this idea by making seven life sized drawings on textile, combined with 3D elements of different materials.This is similar to how I think about Jewelry. Wearing Jewelry also brings me some comfort. I can also carry this comfort wherever I go. My inspiration sources come from daily objects, daily life, memories and situations and the works are mobile in order to take this intimate and comfortable space with you all the time.

Pocket world

Pocket World:The Pocket girl

material: pencil drawing,textile,crystal clear270(h)140(w)cm

year:2009

Collection of Ministry of culture(OCW), The Netherlands,

Pocket World:Candy girl

material: pencil drawing,textile,crystal clear270(h)140(w)cmyear:2009

NOG-SNS Reaal Art Foundation collection

Pocket World:Mr. Fatty


Pocket World:4M


Pocket World:4W


Pocket World:The Family


NOG-SNS Reaal Art Foundation collection

Pocket World:Hiding under a wig


I met Maria, she’s a 68 year old Dutch woman. I was fascinated by her cheerful and pleasant personality.Because of that I wanted to know more about her and also through her wanted to know more about Dutch culture, I started visiting her twice a week and after a while started drawing her at her house.During the month we talked about her trips to Africa, her jewelry collection, food or things that had hap-pened that week. It seemed nothing out of the ordinary but it was a very rich time for me, and I hope that it was for her also.She often commented on my drawings, and even added some of her own touches to some of my work. On the other hand, the very intimate communication we had led our friendship in a more fragile and very delicate way.I have seen both sides of the human character, bright and dark, and the differences between those with a long future and those who are growing old.It’s related to the dual nature of the person, inside and outside. Every person has to make the balance between them as they grow old..That ‘s what I discovered during this process.I realized that I was merely observing one person’s his-tory rather than seeing what is typically Dutch.Drawing the ‘Maria series’ I wanted to draw both sides of her personality.

Maria series

One day Maria told me about a Finnish lady that she bought some jewellery from. It was Maria’s birthday. The jewellery has a big blooming silver flower attached to it which looks to be celebrating her age. ‘I love it, but I don’t wear it. I like to carry it in my bag all the time, because I don’t want to ever leave it!’I thought that Maria’s bag is like her jewellery box. So I gave her a drawing of a key to be able to lock her jewellery box.

Maria series 1

material: pencil drawing on textile,copper270(h)140(w)cmyear:2009

She has a beautiful blue handbag. She told me that she used it only once at her own wedding. She says she doesn’t think she’ll have a chance to go out with it and use it again but it’s still her favourite bag.She has a big collection of jewelry which she collected from all over the world. She told me handreds of story of her jewelry. She said that she could never leave her house because of the collection. I saw those jewelries as a part of herself so threw Maria into a jewelry dress!

Maria series 2

material: pencil drawing on textile,crystal clear270(h)140(w)cm year:2009Collection of Ministry of culture(OCW), The Netherlands,

Maria series 3material: pencil drawing on textile,mixed media270(h)140(w)cmyear:2009

I made a drawing in the study of her house and left it there. After a couple days I came back but she suddenly started laughing so much!‘’What’s going on!? She seemed not to be able to control herself.’’ She took me to my drawing which I had left in her study room. ‘Sorry! I felt so scared of the drawing of the face because it looks like it’s watching me all the time.... so I had to change it........’ What my two eyes found was that there was a new head on my drawing! It was the back of a head turned away wearing her favourite feather hat and golden earrings which she had attached by pin!This was the beginning of our communication though drawings.

www.sayaka.nl

Sayaka Abe works,lives:Amsterdam The Netherlands

Education2009-2011 MA of Sandberg Institute, Applied Art Department, Amster-dam, Netherlands 2005-2009 Bachelor of Arts at Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Jewelry Depart-ment, Amsterdam,Netherlands2000-2004 Bachelor of Arts at Tama Art University, Ceramics Depart-ment Tokyo, Japan 2006 Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden2011- Internship with Janwillem Schrofer(Valtana consultancy)2006-2007 Internship with Jewelry Artist, Iris Nieuwenburg and space designer

Awards Agency For Cultural Affairs of Japan 2010-2011The cultural Foundation of Okada 2010,2011

Collection2011 ‘Pocket World’ at Ministry of culture(OCW), DenHaag,2009 ‘NOG-SNS Reaal Art Foundation collection, Netherlands

Solo Exhibitions2011 Nov ‘Pocket World’ at Ministry of culture(OCW), DenHaag, Sept ‘Nostalgia?’ at C3 gallery, Amsterdam May ‘GM House’ at Het Oude Raadhuis, Hoofd drop, Netherlands2009 Aug ‘The pocket world’ at Kennedy van der laan lawyer office, Am sterdam Group Exhibitions(selection)2011 Jul Sandberg graduation show at Oude Kerk, Amsterdam Jul Duty/Free Sandberg graduation show at CBK, Amsterdam Jun DMY at Tempelhof , Berlin May ‘NIJVERHEDEN’ at Zuiderzee museum, Enkhuizen Apr ‘Refracted Realities’ at OV gallery, Shanghai2010 Oct CAMERA JAPAN, festival 2010 at Lantarenvenster, Rotterdam Aug ‘Learning from the Literati’ at OV gallery, Shanghai May Final presentation’Stamppot met Rodekool’atSieboldhuis,Leide n,Netherlands May Exhibition ‘Power of copy’ at Xuzhou museum of Art, Xuzhou, China Feb Exhibition’Black Brides, Puffing Crow’ at Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, Netherlands Jan Exhibition ‘Stamppot Met Rodekool’ , Living Design Center Ozone, Tokyo

pocket world

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