The exhibition ‘Between Journeys – winter footprints –‘ has just started at The Conceptual International Gallery in Liverpool.  
The private view was held on the 20th February.  
Ayane Muroya is exhibiting her calligraphic paintings and Mai Yoshida is exhibiting her new illustrated prints and six animations.

There are four open rooms at the gallery.  
We have Ayane’s big calligraphic images with an installation with many branches painted white in the first room that was prepared for wines, sandwiches and snacks.  In the second room, we have Ayane’s works.  In the third room, we have my prints and installation in the middle of the room.  In the forth room, there is a projected animation on the wall with little chairs.

At 6pm on the 20th, people started coming though the open door with curious faces.  
We had some press too like Nerve magazine people and Red Dot Exhibition Ltd people.
Ayane and I were very excited.  
Each room was filled with people and party went on and on…..

Between Journeys - Winter Footprints -

Animations & Prints by
Mai Yoshida

Calligraphy by
Ayane Muroya

Private view :
Fri 20th Feb 6 - 9 pm

Exhibition dates:
21 - 27th Feb 10am - 6pm

The Conceptual International Gallery
34 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BX

Between Journeys is a joint exhibition of two Japanese artists who are currently living in north London. The unique experiences they gained living and growing up in both countries has given them 'dual perspective'; an ability to see things from both Japanese and European points of view. This fusion of influences feeds directly into their work.
 
Ayane Muroya moved to the UK at the age of 13. She lived and studied in Bath, York and London before graduating from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design with a BA in Fine Art in 2003. Ayane spent the next years working as an artist creating and exhibiting work in Japan and the UK. The daughter of two Japanese calligraphers, Ayane was brought up in an artistic environment since she was a child. However she ignored to use Japanese ink to create her work while she was at St Martins. It was only during the process of creating her Degree Show work that Ayane returned to her root and began working with Sumi inks again. 'Use of Space' has always been her great interest, whatever media she was using, and it is the key point of her work. The simplicity of Ayane's brush strokes creates an impact on the viewers and invites them to the space beyond the surface of her work.

Mai Yoshida was born in Northen Japan and moved to London in 2000 to study at Camberwell College of Art in London. While Mai studied Illustration, she discovered her interests in making animations.  Her first animation, Alice’s cave has given her first oppotunities to have exhibitions and screenings in Paris, Kiev, Ohio, New York, and London, and achieved a bronze prize at Columbus International Film & Video Festival.  In the same year of her graduation in 2004, she continued her study at Royal College of Art where she concentrated on creating short animations.  Since Mai achieved her Master in 2006, she has exhibited her animations and prints in London, New Delhi, Tokyo, Osaka, Hakodate and Singapore.  The animation Last Snow Before Spring achieved an award in Japan Media Plaza 2008.  In Between Journey, Mai shows her new series of illustrations and six animations including her new work called Colours.

 This exhibition explores difference and similarity and, with two artists' eyes, looks at what it means to be home. Between Journeys.