THREES: Nishiaizu international art village RESIDENCY
Located 120 kilometers from the site of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Nishiaizu is a region whose economy is deeply rooted in local agriculture and forestry. The Nishiaizu International Art Village (NIAV) was established from a passion for environmental rehabilitation, the preservation of traditional agricultural practices, and a vital desire to revitalise a depopulated community through cultural exchange. For our three-week residency, NIAV provided an invaluable gateway to the greater Aizu area, a region still navigating the aftermath of the disaster and connected us with local farmers, foragers, researchers, guides, and survivors.
This intensive period allowed us to refine our collaborative practice, intricately weaving together site and sound to create a singular, cohesive body of work. Guided by conversations with the community and the natural rhythm of the region, we sought to capture the essence of place, observing and learning from the Japanese countryside as Australian artists. These experiences translated into multi-layered works: rich soundscapes shaped by local field recordings, piano, and violin compositions, alongside twenty-one abstract works in oil pastel.
The residency culminated in an exhibition titled THREES. The exhibition examines the ongoing search for balance, harmony, and completeness between humanity and the landscapes that surround and sustain us - the three foundational themes that quietly shape the title.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who generously shared their stories and their time; we hope you feel the presence of this dedicated and resilient community in the final pieces. Furthermore, these works and the resulting exhibition would not have been possible without the generosity of the NIAV team and the endlessly talented Nao Nakazawa, who accompanied Alisha on violin and whose recording and videography documented the exhibition.
Exhibition Details
Location: Nishiaizu International Art Village (NIAV)
Dates: November 28, 2025 – March 15, 2026
THE WORKS
The works draw on three recurring colours found in the November landscape, the red foliage, umber earth and the enduring green of the forest and rice fields each forming part of a measured, three-part response to the environment and its shifting seasons. The hero work in each theme is presented to the right.
21 total works were created to form the visual element of the exhibition, 7 in each theme.
Detailed videography of the artworks was captured by local Nishiaizu resident Nao Nakazawa and projected behind and upon the artworks as part of the final exhibition. The recorded compositions and projections form one continuous looped work enveloping audiences in a multi-scensory experience.
Projected and recorded works.