“Spaceship ‘Kari-nui’”
Risa Sato
17 May → 8 June 2013

Japanese artist Risa Sato will present research and background material into her concept for building an inflatable spaceship in Melbourne. Over two weeks the Spaceship will appear in different public locations across Melbourne. This exhibition is the reciprocal artist exchange between West Space and the multifunctional space Zou-no-hana Terrace in Yokohama, Japan.

Kari-nui" means a fitting, literary Kari means temporary, Nui means sticking. The title thus indicates the sense of ‘forever temporary, forever in process, the endless possibility to be revised". It is in the future tense, like a spaceship in future, and also imperfect form with low cost and hand stitched by the artist, as if it represent artists’ status, in general, forever works for dreams.

“When and how do people encounter an artwork? Since I began my art practice, I have been always thinking about the possibilities of such encounters. When I was an art student at University, this question led myself to initiate the ‘Risa Campaign’ project, where I took my artwork with me and walked around the streets. For the opportunity to participate in the Port Journeys project, I thought that, once again, I would expand into the public realm with my work, as journeys that can be shared with many other people together”.

“The spaceship ‘Kari-nui’ has the most abstract shape ever amongst what I have produced. The concept of spaceship is similarly ambiguous and everyone would have a different image for it. In thinking this way, I hope that ‘Kari-nui’, with its simple shape, will be touched and interacted by many people”.

Born in Toyo 1972. Risa Sato carries the ‘Risa Campaign’ project both nationally and internationally, where she wanders around in towns together with her own artwork. The way she communicates with people is so unique that her works also appears as large-scaled sculptural/public artworks. Her works and projects includes; ‘Player alien’ in Nagano (2005), ‘Four’ Osaka City (2008), ‘Kagemosha’ Kashiwa City (2010), ‘Medam K’ Koganecho Bazaar (2011), ‘Kohachi tumulus (1:17)’ Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum (2012).

Port Journey is a network of partners and events founded on the innovative concept of connecting contemporary art with the public in major port cities. This artistic exchange is the commencement of a proposed six member network:

?Yokohama?Melbourne?Dalian?Singapore?Hamburg?San Diego?

For more images and information on Risa’s project visit the Port Journeys Facebook page.

For further information regarding the Port Journey project, see our project page.