at least we are human

Living in Japan made me reflect about what it means to be a human being - since the culture is so different there. It actually shook my concepts about humanness to the core. The title for this single exhibition in Japan reflects on one aspect of this thoughts - on emotions as a core feat of being a human. So when me and my friend Filipa Tojal had to deal with the strong emotions that came up again and again as part of living so far away from home, in a radical different culture as an-alphabetic foreigners or aliens, we used to say “at least we are human” as a reminder to embrace them.

single exhibition
in toride, japan 2017

triangle hanga.

soybean painting.

more paintings.

casted soybeans.

ika shinda.

title.

edamame ki.

Edamame-ki
a sculpture out of soybeans casted out of solid brass. Size ca. 17x13x12cm

Triangle hanga
Woodblockprint as an object
an abstract approach with this traditional media. Printed on both sides of washi (japanese paper) 45x61cm. This piece is one of a series of 13 individual prints produced out of the same blocks.

casted soybeans
edamame pocket art
Bronze and brass casting, individual soybean pods in various sizes (between four and eight cm in length)

soybean painting
indigo pigment with watercolor painting medium. 70x100 cm

ika shinda
Sculpture of a cuttlefish casted out of solid bronze. Size ca. 21x5x3,5cm

the hat I was wearing a lot of the time in japan and the stool of the studio

at least we are human
the title of the exhibition.
Pen on masking tape, ca.1x7cm

emotions make us human

Emotion.
Recently we were discussing emotions as the essence of being human. When strong feelings are involved we say “At least we have feelings. At least we are human.” In Japan people are very reserved about feelings. At least in public they are not displayed openly. Restraint is a keyword. Does emotion make us human? Some would probably advocate science and logic... But without feelings, we could also be robots or computer programs.