Junio 2006           Ficha Tecnica

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MANO A MANO   

  ERIKA SAITO  Tokyo 1976

Texto del artista.
Cuando llegué a Grazalema, me quedé totalmente impresionada.
Sentí una enorme energía, la misma que había desaparecido hace tiempo viviendo en una gran ciudad.
Esta fuerza me impulsó a hacer estudios sobre los elementos y me sentí muy feliz al recuperar la energía que perdí sin el contacto con la naturaleza.
Concibo Grazalema, como una serie de tierras, muy ricas en energía vital, llena de formas orgánicas

Un paisaje puede verse quieto e inactivo, pero, yo lo percibo abundante en vida.
La tierra nunca permanece constante; rápidamente se mueve, produciendo cambios de luz y sombras, creando un paisaje con vida propia.
Dibujando es como yo expreso esta dinámica de la vida , mostrando el micro y el macro estado de la naturaleza, que  podemos experimentar cuando contemplamos las hermosas  vistas de este pueblo.

Paseando por los alrededores, hay cosas que captan mi atención, por ejemplo, los altos chopos cimbreándose al viento, o la sombra animada de una pequeña hormiga en movimiento. Intento captar su energía y me siento viva cuando me detengo ante estos pequeños sucesos que muchas veces pasamos de largo. Llego a la Galería con estas sensaciones y las vierto en el papel como objetos orgánicos simplificados, óvalos, círculos, bolas... y estas formas toman su propia vida como las recuerdo .

Cuando un círculo está quieto, solamente es un círculo, pero cuando este se mueve, yo lo veo doblándose, multiplicándose, creando cadenas, estratos y masas, dejando huellas de líneas, curvas y espirales..

Espero que los dibujos lleguen a inspirar la abundante energía que desarrolla este entorno natural de Grazalema.

Artist Statement - Erika Saito

When I arrived to Grazalema, it totally amazed me.
I felt so much energy I have been missing living in a big city.
I could not help myself, I had to make studies of elements, which made me happy, and brought the rich energy, I had lost in an environment, so detached from nature.

I see Grazalema, as a series of landscapes, rich resource of vital energy formed with organic shapes.

A landscape may seem very still and with no activity, yet, I see it with abundance of life.
Landscape is never still or constant; sun moving, shadows changing, and moreover, all that makes a landscape has its presence and its own life.

Drawing is my attempt to express this dynamism of life - the activity of alive things. Then to show both the microscopic and the macroscopic state of nature, which what we experience as seeing the beautiful views of Grazalema.

Walking in the village, I tune into what caught my attention, such as tall Elm trees swaying in the wind and animated shadows of a crawling ant. I try to remember and embrace its energy. It gives such power, when coming across these little events, which we tend not to be aware of. I come to draw in the gallery, charged with such energy, I lay these events out on paper, as simplified organic shapes, ovals, circles and balls, then allow these shapes to take on its life as I remember.

When a circle is still, it is only a circle, yet when it is moving, I see them doubled, multiplying, creating chains, layers, and mass, leaving tracks of lines, curves, and spirals. I hope these drawings can inspire to know the abundant energy we can realize in an environment full of nature, as in being in Grazalema.



Born between a Japanese and a Swedish parent in Japan, brought up in Tokyo.
Moved to the US for education, spent total of 11 years in NY metropolitan area.
Studied Fine Arts in college, and have been working with commercial artists in advertizing.
Now based in Tokyo, and visiting Spain.

EDUCATION
Summer 1995 Completion of Painting Marathon, New York Studio School, NYC, NY.
Fall 1995 Completion of Semester on Contemporary Art in NYC, Drew University, Madison, NJ.
Completion of courses, Printmaking, Painting, Art and Content, School of Visual Arts, NYC, NY.
May 1997 BA, Fine Art Major, Studio Emphasis, Drew University, Madison, NJ.

INTERNSHIPS as Production Assistant
Spring 1992 Mike Bochrath, Chief Conservator, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA.
Summer 1995 Kathy Caraccio, Master Fine Art Printer, Kathy Caraccio Printing Studio, NYC, NY.
Fall 1996 Madeleine Hatz, Painter, Z Gallery, NYC, NY.
Spring 1997 John Duff, Sculptor, Knoedler Gallery, NYC, NY.
Summer 1997 Brian Reminarier, Master of Fine Art Metal Casting, Empire Bronze Foundry, Queens, NY.