Love Art Animation

Lectures at The International School of Creative Arts

Mai Yoshida — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:47:00 GMT

On 27th January 2010

I went to the ISCA (International School of Creative Art) to give a screening and a lecturing.

This time they were full time students aged between 16 and 19. They were 16 of them. Everyone chose an elective such as Textile, Fine Art, Graphic and Design, some were interested in animation and how to make it. This term their brief was to make a flip-book, understanding the movement, making a storyboard and so on, which teaches them to understand animations.

As soon as the screen was on, everyone gazed the animations. I told them how the each animation was made with what kind of technique.
After that, I showed my work in progress which is hundreds of drawings that create animated human.
They seemed interested in looking at them as the students asked many questions.

A student asked me to keep in touch and some asked me to come to the school again.
I definitely love to see them again!

On 21st July 2009

I was given an oppotunity to give a lecture and an animation screening at The International School of Creative Arts. (ICAS)

It was the last week of 3 week summer course, where they studied 3D, Fashion, and Painting. The sudent ages were between 16 - 18. They all came from different countries including U.S.A, Turky, Holland, Singapore, and Taiwan etc.

All students seemed to be having fun in this school. A farewell party was going on and some people looked quite upset about friends leaving, but all seemed very focused during screening. As soon as all animations finishied, many raised their hands for questions excitedly. That was very impressing. Questions included 'How did you come up with an idea?', ' What software do you use?' and ' how do you get the effects?' I hope my animations have given them some ideas for their further interests.

I hope to see them in a few years again

Between Journeys – winter footprints –

Mai Yoshida — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:49:00 GMT

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.

Camden Art Centre

Mai Yoshida — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

I went to the Camden Art Centre by bike I was recently given.
I had not been to the gallery since David Shrigley's show about 6 years ago.
It seemed cleaner and nicer than what I remenber.

Daan van Golden and Andro Wekua 's exhibitions.
Andro Wekua's work was very colourful using his manekin-like sculpture and collage. However, it seemed to me dark. The gallery describes his work as melancholic. Maybe that's the word. I liked the colours of the installation.

Andro Welkua's work varys in different period. I liked his photography of his daughter. I enjoyed his paintings too. They were cheerful and cool. He lived in Tokyo for a year.

Both shows will continue till 8 of Febrary.

Early X'massss

Mai Yoshida — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:56:00 GMT

ここで函館（出身）の皆様にお知らせです。
ステップアップ（財団文化・スポーツ雑誌）の１２月に私の第二回目の記事が載ってます。第一回目を逃した方は１１月号を図書館などで探せると思います。
来年の４月までイギリスでの生活やらのお話を書きますので、読んでいただけると嬉しいです。

１２月の始めからちゃくちゃくとロンドンはクリスマス色になりつつあり、あれ、まだクリスマス終わってないんだっけ？と思うほど長ーい準備期間です。

各地でクリスマスセールが行われていて私はクラフトセールに行きました。アート大学時代の友達２人が結成したBobby　Dazzlerが手作り人形をたくさんつくってショップを開いていました。どれも可愛いキャラばかり。東ロンドンのブリックレーンの近くのSUNDAY MARKETにも毎週日曜に出してる彼女ら、過去に２回ほど買わせていただき、一つはお友達の誕生日プレゼントに、もう一つはいまでもオジさん人形が私の机の上でたたずんでます。他にも手作りT−シャツや、ヘアバンド、アクセサリーなどが売られててどれも精巧に出来ていました。

その次に向かったのはシュタイナー学校の中で行われたバザーのようなクリスマスセール。ちびっ子達が走り回るその教会のような学校には赤ちゃんの靴下や手袋、手作りケーキなどが売られていてアットホームな感じになりました。

全体的に不況のイギリスは消費税が１７．５％だったのを１５％にさげ、クリスマスの日の前にはあまりみないセールが町中で行われています。全て１０％ー５０％オフとか。いつもはこれでもかというくらいきらびやかなREGENT STREETも今年のイルミネーションはちょっと寂しい感じ。

でもX-FACTORではBEYONCEと最高のデュエットしてLEONA LEWISに勝るくらい国際的スーパーシンガーになりそうなALEXANDRA BURKEが誕生し、イギリス（SIMON COWELL）もホッとしてるかもね。

私は週末SUFFORKへ行き、第一回目のクリスマスを祝杯してきました。クリスマスツリーを飾り、柊やらアイビーで生け花したり、クリスマスクラッカーしたり、美味しいローストを食べたり、夜中までゲームしたり。最高にリラックス＆エンジョイしました。こんなに食べていいのってくらい食べてますけど、１２月に入ってからホット・ヨガをまたやっているので良しという事にしておきます。

--------------------

News: To Hakodate people, my second story on the magazine called STEP-UP December is out. Those who missed the first story can find STEP-UP November in the Hakodate library.

It's a bit early for feeling like Xmas?
But UK seems Xmasy all over the place since the end of November.
I went to a few Xmas sales. One in Euston called BUSK. There were several little shops in the social church place.
Bobby Dazzler was selling their hand made cute dolls there. www.theworldofbobbydazzler.co.uk/
I also went to the Stainer school Xmas sale. Little kids were running around and I had hand made cakes.
How can I not feel like Xmas with all candles and holly leaves? Love them!

Although whole United Kingdom seems to be hit by the depression, X-factor has found a new super singer, Alexandra Burke.
That makes me at least feel the good ending of 2008, which was superb anyway.

Merry Xmas!

Buffalo-SAN08

Mai Yoshida — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:46:00 GMT

Yesterday on 13th Nov, I went to a film festival called Buffalo-SAN08, where my new animation Colours was for the first time in UK screened at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton.
There were 14 short films and Soulcyde's music performance.
www.Soulcyde.com

I enjoyed the most of the films.
Some were very funny and some were touching.
The most exciting bit was to see people's reaction to my animation.
Some people laughed at some scenes where I didn't mean to make it funny..!?
It was a good experience and I would like to keep my animations seen like yesterday.

(Sorry. I will put it up in my schedule earlier next time!)

----

昨晩、私の新作アニメーション「Colours」のイギリス初上映を見に Brixton の Ritztシネマの、Buffaloフィルムフェスティバルに行きました。
フェスティバルには１４のショートフィルムが出品されていて、ほとんどの作品が楽しめました。
ある作品はとても面白かったし、ある作品はものすごく感動できる作品でした。
同時にSoulcydeのミュージックパフォーマンスも楽しめました。
www.Soulcyde.com
一番良かったのは私の作品を上映している時のお客さんの反応でした。
面白く作ったつもりがなくても大笑いしてたりして、なんだか新鮮な感じがしました。
とても良い経験になりましたし、これからも人に観てもらえる機会を増やせたらと思いました。

（お知らせできなくてすみません！次の時は早めにスケジュールとして載せますので！）

My animation on a big screen!

The Animation Workshop at Tate Britain

Mai Yoshida — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:12:00 GMT

I was asked to do an animation workshop at Tate Britain for London Film Festival for 4 days. That was when I was actually thinking of doing an animation workshop in schools. I thoght it would be a good start.

It was my first experience, so I was quite nervous. There were 20 kids who turned up. On the day before, Me and Natsuko made models for a demonstration. It took us a day. We wondered if the kids( they under 8) can finish all within 1 hour!

After watching award-winning films, we moved to a workshop room. During our introduction and demonstration, the whole room was tense, but when the actual workshop started, all seemed to work OK. Kids were asked to think of the story like WHO DOES WHAT and start to creat a character and a second character or maybe a background too. Their ideas were really impressing. All the story were creative and imaginative like a bunny falling in love with a carrot, a warm coming out from a big apple, a biker does a pizza delivery, a proper football match going on.... etc...

In the end, everyone kept their artwork in their bag with a smile when they went home.
It was an amazing experience for me too!
I was lucky because Miss. Silke gave us tickets for Fransis Bacon, Rothko and Turner Prize 08.

We have two more days to go, which is exciting!

------------------

London Film Festivalに因んでTate Britain　でアニメーションワークショップ（講習会）をやってます。今週火、水と２日間、来週月、火と２日間。
１日目、生徒は子供達。８歳以下かな。２０人ほど集まりました。

前の日はなっちゃんと二人でデモンストレーション用のモデル作るのに１日かかった。
一瞬幼稚園の先生ってこんなことするのかな、とか考えたり。相当楽しんでしまった。私らの作ったモデルはジンジャーブレッドマン。目が動いたり、海を泳いだりしてるシーンを作ったもの。でも私らでさえ１日かかるのに１時間ほどのワークショップで子供らはどれだけ、できるんだろうと心配・・。

いよいよ当日、London Film Festivalで入賞した作品のアニメーション見たあと、いよいよワークショップ室へ、最初は、「ジンジャーブレッドマンがねー」などと説明しているとき、シーンとしてかなり心配してたけど、やり始めたらものすごく楽しそうに真剣に作ってくれて良かった。

５、６人の女の子達は誰かが「ウサギ作るの」と言い出したからみーんな真似してウサギ作ってて可愛かった。でもその中にはウサギとキャロットの恋物語作り始めたり、途中でウサギ作るのやめてリンゴから青虫が飛び出す作品作る子もでてきた。
そのウサギグループから少し離れた席に座ってた子の中にはハートや星の恋物語を作ってる子、スケートをしゅるしゅる滑る女の子を作る子、夜空の流れ星を描く子と、なんだかすごい想像力で圧倒された。

男の子達はというと、車の絵を一生懸命書いてアニメーションにまで辿り着かない子や、自転車を作ったと思ったらピザや家を作り始めて、動きのある作品にしてる子もいた。今日仲良くなった年上の二人はサッカーフィールドとかテニスコート作って、選手やボールも作り、もうゲームが出来る状態にまでしていた。

みんな最後はニコニコしてて、自分の作品にホレボレ。満足して帰ってゆきました。

その後、テートで働くSilkeさんにFransis Baconの展示会のチケットをもらい、ゆったりと鑑賞。すごく良かった。Rothko、 Turner Prizeのチケットももらえた。ラッキー

来週も楽しみー。

London Calling Tokyo 2008

Mai Yoshida — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:17:00 GMT

Hi.
Here is my forthcoming exhibition in Tokyo.
I am exhibiting my prints and animation films.
Please visit.

* London Calling 2008 *
Place: Bunka Quinto Saloon, 2F 3-22-7 Yoyogi Shibuya-ku Tokyo, Japan 09-3299-2118
Date: 16th-19th Oct 2008

Private View
Friday 17^thOctober (Invitations needed)
Bunka Quinto Saloon
19:00 – 21:00

***************************

東京の展示会に作品を出品する事になりました。
ロンドン芸術大学の企画です。

* London Calling　2008 *

日程：１０月１６日ー１９日
午前１０時から午後５時
入場料無料
プライベートビュー, 金曜日, １０月１７日, １９：００ー２１：００（要招待状）

会場：文化クイントサロン
東京都渋谷区代々木３－２２－７
新宿文化クイントビル２F
電話：０９－３２９９ー２１１８

London Calling Tokyo 2008 – list of exhibitors:

Maiko Ito

Maiko Kisaka

Tanya Tanaka

Akiko Iba

Kumi Katou

Shantell Martin

Maki Ikegami

Ami Ishibashi

Chihiro Murakami

Yuka Nishimura

Tomoe Imai

Mai Yoshida

Yuko Yoshitake

Ikuko Iwamoto

Masaki Yada

Yuko Sugimoto

Kumiko Tani

Gaurav Gupta

Hiroko Shiratori

Persepolis (2007)

Mai Yoshida — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:10:00 GMT

I went to watch Persepolis (2007).

Story: The black-and-white animation, highly stylized and two dimensions which doesn't attempt to render the usual cartoon 3-D, summarizes in quick, intelligent flashes, often impressionistic, growing up in Teheran and Vienna from a highly personal point of view. The narrative is as original as the art. The narrator, Marjane Satrapi, only daughter of an educated Teheran couple, first sketches in briefly how the Shah first came to power,only to lose it and have it replaced by the fanatical religious regime of today. Educated in a French school, she and her family are rapidly alienated from the so-called revolution; she is sent to Vienna to continue her education, falls in with a group of punks and eventually returns both depressed and disillusioned to Teheran where, with other university students, she must submit to the rule of extreme Islamists.

(quoted from imdb)

First, 'French animation about Iran' sounded very interesting. I've heard a lot of good stuffs about French animations. Probabry this can be one of the first of many French animation I will watch. ( I also loved Les Triplettes de Belleville)
The black and white drawing looked also very modern and artistic.

The story was quite heavy. And also all the characters weren't very distinctive, so I wonder if I could get into it. However, since Marjane goes to a school in Vienna, all made sense. I could connect all she was saying to myself being foreigner all the time trying to be someone else. And she couldn't be someone else. Especially with her serious war background. When Marjane was angry with her punk friend. She said ' getting freedom is not fun. Do you think my grandpa and my uncle all died just for fun?' It was truly emotional. Her friend had nothing to be blamed for because he hadn't seen it... I begun to think of my Iranian friend who lives in Paris or a gentle Afghan guy who works in laundry near my house. They or their family all may have the hard side of world back home. And it's my responsibility to be aware of it.

There were a lot of humors / cultures that most of the people should connect to; such as homosexuality, drugs, relationships and music. I guess the writers did a good job transforming the serious religious issues/a war to a comical format. And animation format also helped. If it was non-animation film, I would still find it hard to connect their view to myself.

By watching the film, I really thank the production and the writer because I could see a part of their world. I've seen the power of animations. As I am an animation artist, I truly thought what I am trying to do is what they have done to me.

M Y

アーティストになった瞬間

Mai Yoshida — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:56:00 GMT

オーストラリアのある女の子からメールが届いた。
先日発行されたBLOCKマガジンで私のインタビューの記事を読んだという始まりだった。
そこからリンクして行ったmaiyoshida.comのサイトに載っている作品の中でDrawingやPrintも好きだけれど alice's cave のアニメーションが特に好きだと伝えてくれた。
alice's caveは４年前、アニメーションを始めるきっかけになった５分１２分の作品で、今でも私にとっては特別な作品だ。
その女の子はまだアート学生で、どうやってアーティストになれたかと訪ねて来た。
そして、その答えを考えていたとき、自分でももう一度どうして、いつそういう意識を持ち始めたかを考えてみた。

2004年にRCA（Royal College of Art) に行く前まで、それこそ alice's cave を完成させるまでは自分の道がまるで見えず、とりあえずかっこいいものを見よう見真似で作ってた気がする。ファッション的なイラストをかければきっと仕事もあるし、コンピュータ技術は結構得意だしグラフィックデザイナーでもいいかなどと考えていた。絵本も書きたいけどそれはおばあちゃんになってからに・・とか。

信じられないくらい倍率が高いはず(学費も・・）のRCAの学校に入れた時、今思えば何かから救われた様な安心感を抱いた。
両親はしばらく金銭の問題で眉をしかめつつも、私がアートへ求める気持ちを知っていたので了解してくれた。
羽が生えた気分だった。

しかし、学校が始まってからは学費の金額のプレッシャーで１日１２時間学校にいるくせに、友達関係で疲れてる自分がいたり。
みんなと友達になってしまったせいで、会う人会う人にご挨拶／お茶／バーでも行こうか・・・などとほんと「MAIはいつも遊びに来てるね」ってよく言われてた。１２時間x７週間学校行ってたから精神的に不健康だった。作る作品はダークになるばかり・・。（RCAの傾向もあるかもね）

はっきりいって作品作るのが苦痛になってた。なぜなら学校にいる時間と作品の量が全然比例しなかったり！
卒業したらどうするかという話にTutor（先生）となり、「アニメーション作りたいけど短編アニメーションはメジャーじゃないから仕事もないだろうし、いっそイラスト系で行こうかと考えてます。」なんて話した。でも先生は「先生」だった。
「ここで学んでる事は卒業して２、３年何をするのか決める為じゃない。残り５０年あったらその間何をやって生きて行くかを考慮する時間だよ。」

（・・・・感銘！）

2006年にMaster取得して学校終了。卒業してからはまた2004年のものとは違う「羽」が生えたように自由な気がした。

「財政が厳しい・・」「時間ばかりが過ぎる・・」
よく考えたら不安のタネはいつも同じ。
尊敬するアーティストもきっと私と同じように苦しんだりもがいたりして作品を作って行ったんだ、と考えたら作品ができないときのもやもやな不安感もプロセスなんだと思えるようになった。

自分がアーティストになったと感じた瞬間・・それは作りたい、伝えたいという気持ちだけで手が動き始めたとき。

どこにも属さず、特に決まった収入がなくても自分を信じて継続する事を決めた時。
生きているうちにいくつ作品を作っていけるかと自分と勝負しようと決めた時。
オーストラリアの女の子、自分を信じて頑張ってください。

******************************************************
BLOCKマガジン（５月号）
http://www.block-mag.com/

Welcome to my website!

Mai Yoshida — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:32:00 GMT

Welcome to Mai Yoshida website. I would like to talk about my story, life and Art etc occasionally. Please leave comments about my work or my story.

Mai Yoshida のホームページへようこそ！たまに私のお話やアート、様々な事について書いて行きたいと思います。コメントなどウェルカムです！