Japan link-up in groundbreaking workshop at Fife heritage centre
A groundbreaking workshop exploring Japanese art and calligraphy was held at Methil Heritage Centre recently.
As well as exploring the traditions of the art and its process, participants were treated to a live video link with a real calligraphist in Japan and given an insight into its origins and secrets.
Inking Our Heritage: A Journey of Seasons and Coal was held in two sessions over two days, and led by Keiko Mukaide, a Fife-based artist from Tokyo whose work is showing in the centre’s current exhibition WonderStore 2.0.
She showed the six budding artists, aged from 10 upwards, how to create their own ink using local coal in an age-old traditional process, forging another link between the two geographical locations. They also used authentic Japanese calligraphy brushes and Washi paper to create their own work.
They also took part in a live video call with the Japanese calligraphist, giving them a unique opportunity to pick up tips and question the artist on her work.
One of those who joined the workshop was Levenmouth woman Leslie Holler, her two sons and her sister-in-law Estella, who was visiting from California and who was delighted to take part.
She said: “We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves throughout the two sessions and learned a lot.” Rachel-Jane Morrison, OnFife’s community impact team manager, who helped arrange the workshop, added: “It was the first time we’ve tried anything like this and my mind is still blown that we were able to link up with an artist in Japan. It is really exciting and shows what can happen when we work with the community and are led by their imagination and ideas.”