Professor Hirotoshi Sakaguchi and alumni and current members of his Postgraduate Research Group from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (aka Tokyo Geidai)�visited us in Sydney.�We hosted an array of exchange activities with Sydney artists and curators to give them an insight to life in Sydney and the Australian Contemporary Art Scene.Highlights are below.

VISIT TO VISUAL ARTIST, JANET LAURENCE’S STUDIO

Janet� regularly exhibits�in�Japan and most recently created a�permanent installation “Elixir” for the 2003�Echigo-Tsumari Triennale - the same year Professor Sakaguchi also created his installation “Open Space of the Earth” for same. What a small world - it was great to see them reminisce.

Janet’s studio is truly amazing. �

THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SYDNEY

The MCA was a great place to introduce our guests to Australian contemporary art. MCA Curator, Russell Storer introduced us to the artists and works of their New Acquisitions collection, including work by Match Box Project Participants, Janet Laurence and Ruark Lewis. �

Russell Storer introducing us to the MCA’s New Acquisitions in front of Janet Laurence’s Installation

Charles Merewether, Artistic Director and Curator of Biennale of Sydney 2006, - Australia’s largest international art event, introduced us to Zones of Contact.

With Charles Merewether�following his introduction to Zones of Contact,in front of Terra Negata (2005) by Imants Tillers

2006 Biennale of Sydney participant, Ruark Lewis performed two scores in relation to his installation�at the Biennale, Shipping Tales relating to Australian immigration and commerce and A Mis-Reading of Australian History, relating to Australia’s historical records of discovery by the 19thC.�English explorer Ernest Giles.

With Ruark Lewis after his performance.

ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (AGNSW)

Anthony Bond, General Manager Curatorial Services, AGNSW welcomed us all to the AGNSW and �kindly introduced us to the Gallery, including the work of Kei Takemura, an Alumni of Sakaguchi’s Research group who was exhibiting in the Biennale of Sydney and is also a Match Box Project Participant! . . ���������

 Anthony Bond and Naomi introducing Kei’s work

SCULPTURE WALK AND STROLL THROUGH BOTANICAL GARDENS TO OPERA HOUSE�

A  peek at Janet Laurence’s Public Installation, Veil of Trees and a stroll through the Botanical Gardens was next.

A stroll through the Gardens.

Zoe, Isao and Takafumi enjoying their Sydney exchange experience.���

Harry’s CAFE de WHEELS, Woolloomoolloo��

Meat Pie time overlooking Woolloomoolloo Wharf. ��� ��� ��

Professor Sakaguchi and Co enjoying their first meat pie!��

HOME/STUDIO OF MARTIN SHARP, Australia’s most prominent Pop Artist �

Everyone enjoyed visiting Martin’s, spending time in his garden and learning about his practice and special place in his heart for Japanese artist, Hokusai, and performer Tiny Tim (who will be releasing a CD in Japan in the near future!!)�

Martin signing a Poster he created for a Tiny Tim performance at the Opera House�

HOME/STUDIO OF DESIGNER/FILM MAKER JENNIE TATE

Jennie has over 20 years history with Japan, and is currently developing a film in Tokyo culminating from her Japan experiences. Her first artworks she has created for Match Box Projects, are the story boards for this film. Everyone enjoyed meeting Jennie, learning about her film and relaxing for afternoon tea in her beautiful Paddington terrace. They are looking forward to seeing her in Japan in November!�

Enjoying supper at Jennie Tates amazing Paddington home

COFA - College of Fine Arts visit, University of New South Wales�

Many of Match Box Projects’ participating Sydney artists are alumni or presently completing their post graduate degrees at COFA. COFA is where the foundings of the Match Box Project evolved when Leanne, as an undergraduate student, was asked to design a symbol of her identity. She used two matches to represent her identity as a twin and created a series of match prints that she housed in a giant matchbox.�� At COFA we visited a number of the studios of our artists

Visiting Anna Kristensen and her amazing paintings of the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves at her COFA studio.

MATCH BOX PROJECTS COFA MINI EXHIBIT AND ARTS EXCHANGE

Thanks to the Dean of COFA, Professor Ian Howard, we exhibited the Match Box Project Galleries and enjoyed celabratory drinks with our artists and supporters of the Projects including members from the Australia Japan Society of New South Wales, Bentine, Resolution Media and COFA, UNSW.�

BRONTE TO BONDI WALK

The walk was amazing - the weather changed from rain to blue skies - fresh air, sandstone, nature - only 8 km from the city centre - perfect morning.�

Enjoying Bondi Beach

WATSONS BAY FERRY TO CIRCULAR QUAY�

After a seafood lunch from Watsons Bay the the fresh air and view from the ferry was amazing.��

MATCH BOX GALLERIES

We took our galleries with the works of our Tokyo visitors out for the first time. Everyone enjoyed seeing their work in Match Box Galleries.�

Bridging the Gap between Australia and Japan - In front of the MCA

PIER 2/3�- BIENNALE OF SYDNEY�

We visited Biennale of Sydney venue, Pier 2/3 where Antony Gormley’s Asian Field, 2003 was a favourite.�

PADDINGTON MARKETS�

Saturdays in Paddington, is great with the markets, terrace architecture and abundent galleries�

OFF TO BRISBANE����������

Our visitors left Sydney for Brisbane to continue their Australian exchange with QCA - see their University exchange project at http://interimage.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU

back in 5
Monika Behrens
Simon Cooper
Hamilton Darroch
Linda Dennis
Keiko Inoue
Koujirou Inoue
Anna Kristensen
Mahou Kudou
Janet Laurence
Ruark Lewis�
Zoe MacDonell
Kana Matsushima
Yuka Nakamura
Yuna Ogino
Toshiko Oiyama
Chizuko Saito
Hirotoshi Sakaguchi
Martin Sharp
Leanne Shedlezki
Naomi Shedlezki
Jennie Tate
Takafumi Tsuchiya
Isao Yamaguchi� A special thanks to Linda Dennis at�Tokyo Geidai for helping us make things happen.�� We gratefully thank the following for their support towards our first Match Box Exchange Tour:

Judith Blackell, Head, Artistic Programs, MCA
Anthony Bond, General Manager, Curatorial Services, Art Gallery of NSW
Craig Figtree, General Manager, Aussie Blue Tours
Ian Howard, Dean, College of Fine Arts, UNSW
Ruark Lewis, Artist, Biennale of�Sydney
Charles Merewether, Artistic Director and Curator, Biennale of Sydney, 2006
Yasuko Miyashiro, Interpretor/Translator
Russel Storer, Curator, MCA

special thank you to�Qantas, Qantas Holidays and the College of Fine Arts for their support 

� � Thank you�to all our Sydney participants that welcomed us into their studios/homes and joined us throughout the journey. Sydney Tokyo Match Box Exchange Participants

We are�from Sydney, NSW, andhave chosen�Sydney, Tokyo�and Nagoya as our major zones of exchange for our first�Match Box Project.� Sydney & Nagoya are sister cities and NSW and Tokyo Metropolitan Government are sister states.

In May, Leanne and I travelled with Match Box Galleries to Japan. It was Leanne’s first venture to the land of the rising sun,�whilst it was my 7th time.�I have lived on and off in Japan for the past 12 years. We travelled�to Fukushima where I was based for a year in 2002 and to�Tokyo and Nagoya�to explore the art scenes and�introduce the Match Box Projects to future participants.

We met amazing people along the way. See our blog entries on Furudono, Tokyo and Nagoya

We thank the following for their support.

�

In Furudono, Fukushima, I introduced Leanne to my friends and traditional Japanese lifestyle and culture

Introducing Leanne to traditional Japanese Food, and The Australia-Japan Match Box Project to Furudono councilors, including the Mayor of Furudono.

Leanne recieving her first Match Boxes from Japan from Azuma-san, Director of the Furudono Board of Education, who we also thank for him and his staff’s generous time and hospitality during our stay in Furudono.

Leanne trying to play the Taiko!

Introducing the Match Box Projects to my special Friends in Furudono.

Match Box Gallery with Kakeda Sensei and her Nihon Bunyo Group (Traditional Japanese Dancing Group)

Whilst in Furudono, we introduced the young members of the community to Australian culture with Experience Australia activities at the local primary schools, kindergarten and Community Centre.

We went back to Furudono Kindergarten the next day where we were presented with wonderful gifts for our boxes.

The above activities were made possible thanks to Todd Tai, Ad Office, Macquarie Japanese Studies Centre, Macquarie University, and Qantas.

After picking up our first portable Match Box Gallery on 25 January, 2006 we toured the gallery through thea 2006 Australia Day Celebrations on 26 January. Australia Day is a day we come together as a nation to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian.� In communities across the nation, Australians take to the streets, parks and backyards to celebrate our land, people, heritage, diversity and freedom. Througout the day we were�being filmed by Tokyo TV for a story on the Australia Japan Year of Exchange. 2006 is the official Year of Exchange between Australia and Japan, in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between the two countries.

Our days movements including welcoming in Australia Day at the Indigenous Performance at Farm Cove, Watching the Harbour events on the media boat, HMAS Gascoyne, and introducing the project to new members of the Sydney Japanese community and inaugural volunteers of Match Box Projects.

Welcoming in Australia Day at Farm Cove.
Each year, Australia Day begins with the Woggan ma gule Morning Ceremony. Performed in the Royal Botanic Gardens, sacred land of the indigenous Gadigal people, the ceremony honours the past and celebrates our future.

Leanne and I with Kinuyo and the Gascoyne crew on the media boat. Sydney Harbour is always full of activity with many boat races, competitions, even a Surfboard Challenge when hundreds of surfboards launch into Sydney Harbour from the Sydney Opera House, paddle under the Harbour Bridge and sprint to the other side.

We have invited 3 Sydney artists who have explored Japanese influences and culture in their own practice to join us on our journey of exchange, Simon Cooper, Zoe MacDonell and Jennie Tate. Their works are exhibited together with Leanne’s on Side B of our Match Box Gallery.

Leanne on the Gascoyne introducing the Match Box Gallery. Works on top row by Leanne Shedlezki, and

bottom row�L-R by Jennie Tate, Zoe MacDonell and Simon Cooper.

Above 2 photos by Tony Egan. See http://www.australiaday.com.au/For more details.

Introducing our first Match Box Gallery with the History of the Project in Nagoya Gardens, Hyde Park