Queen Victoria Gardens

View the ceramic installation ‘Victorian Landscape,’ inspired by artist Yoko Ozawa’s experiences whilst at an artist residency at the Garambi Baanj (Laughing Waters) Cultural Precinct in June 2023.

The Garambi Baanj Cultural Precinct is operated by InPlace in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, 24km from Melbourne city. Early every morning, when the eucalyptus forest outside was still dark, Yoko put wood on the fire and observed the darkness and the shifting tonal moments as the sun came out through the forest above the river. At sunset in the evening these tonal observations were reversed.

The installation at MPavilion will illustrate this everyday celestial event, with visitors able to experience natural phenomena—shadows, breeze, sunlight and rain—entering the space throughout the day and interacting with the installation. Every morning, Yoko will sweep the stone floor and rearrange the installation to develop the landscape. The ceremonial routine demonstrates not only ordinary life, but also illuminates the fine line where ‘space’ is. At the end of the project, the installation will be completed by all the elements that occurred in the space during the week.

Yoko’s practice is deeply influenced by the Japanese notion of よはくyohaku (blank space). For Yoko, yohaku is not a blank space of nothingness, it is a space of great potential. Her ceramic work and wider installation practice articulates this space: there is connectivity between nature and humans around us.

Learn more about Yoko’s work in an interview here.

Collaborator:

Born in Japan, Melbourne-based artist Yoko Ozawa has been making ceramics since 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from Musashino Art University, Tokyo. Since setting up her studio in 2012 in Melbourne, she has exhibited widely throughout Australia, Japan, and England, including the National Gallery of Victoria as part of the NGV Melbourne Now exhibition, Australia, Somerset House, London, England, and mina perhonen, Kyoto, Japan. Ozawa’s work is informed by a lifelong interest in natural phenomena including seasonal transitions, fog, breeze, light and shadow. Through her study of Japanese painting, she became deeply influenced by the Japanese notion of Yohaku (blank space) and draws upon this in her ceramic practice.

Victorian Landscape: Searching for Yohaku was commissioned by MPavilion as part of MStudio.
MStudio invites you to experience the outcomes of MPavilion’s Tenth Anniversary commissioning program, created in response to Tadao Ando’s design.