Japanese Government (MEXT) Postgraduate Scholarships
MEXT Alumni Personal Experiences
Alexandra Blum - Kyoto City University of Arts
In February 2007, the JICC conducted an interview with Alexandra Blum, who spent two years in Japan on the Japanese Government Scholarship Programme. Below is a summary of the interview.
Please give a brief self-introduction, including reference to your duties as a Japanese Government Scholar and to your current occupation.
I spent 18 months in Kyoto, Japan on the Japanese Government scholarship programme studying painting, and I currently continue to practise as an artist in London. My work is based upon an exploration of the nature of urban space. Periods of research in several different cities including Newcastle, Kyoto, Paris and London, have been vital in informing my understanding of the urban environment and the possibilities of rendering space in two dimensions.
Whilst in Japan I made particular research into Japanese Momoyama Period painting, studying the manner in which movement through time and space is integral to the construction of, and expressed by, the composition. The work I undertook in Japan continues to have a strong influence on my work. I concluded my time in Japan with an exhibition of work made during the scholarship alongside the photographs of a fellow scholarship recipient. This show took place in architect David Chipperfield's TAK Building in Kyoto and was designed as a continuation of our exploration of the structure of the city of Kyoto.
Why did you apply to join the Japanese Government Scholarship Programme?
I have always had a strong interest in Japanese painting, in particular the methods used to depict movement through space and time, and I was keen to be able to study the art work I was interested in first-hand and within its cultural context. I also wanted to experience life in a culture very different from my own and to have the opportunity to learn a language completely new to me. In addition I thought the scholarship would be an excellent stepping stone from an undergraduate course to a career as a professional artist.
Please describe one of the most memorable experiences from your time in Japan.
I have many amazing memories from Japan, but perhaps one of my most memorable experiences was spending two weeks on a homestay programme, with a Japanese family in Kyushu over New Year. The opportunity to live within a family over this important time of year gave me a unique insight into the Japanese way of life and was a wonderful experience that really helped me to begin to feel more integrated into life in Japan.
What did you learn from your stay in Japan and your participation in the Government Scholarship programme?
Perhaps the most lasting and influential aspect of my stay in Japan was the impact it has had on my subsequent work. I became very interested in the structure of the city of Kyoto itself and made many drawings exploring the city, which developed into a series of paintings examining the specific type of urban space I encountered in Kyoto. In addition, as I was based at Kyoto City University of Arts, I was able to take history of art and architecture courses. The field trips, which were part of these courses, meant that I had the invaluable opportunity to see many works of art in situ which I wouldn't otherwise have had access to.
My study of the methods used to depict time and space in Japanese works of art has led me to make images in which the depicted space is not restricted to a single point perspective. In turn this has allowed me to explore an encompassing sense of space, to explore the relationship between an individual and the objects surrounding them at a particular moment: a moment when the spatial relationships seem suddenly dynamic and to manifest intersections of time and space. Images of my work and its progression since returning from Japan can be seen at www.alexblum.co.uk.
It was also fantastic to have the opportunity to live in a country with as rich and intriguing a culture and way of life as Japan has - and one so utterly different from my own! It has enabled me to gain a wider perspective on the world, on cultural differences and, by being distant from it, to reflect upon the culture and way of life in the UK.
What impact, if any, did your experience in the Japanese Government Scholarship Programme have on the development of your career?
As mentioned above, the impact of the research I carried out in Japan is still central to the paintings I make currently. However, the influence of Japan in my life hasn't stopped there. In addition to having made friendships and professional relationships with many people in Japan, on my return to London I have found that the network of people who took part in the scholarship programme is very strong, as is the support of the wider Japanese community in London. This has resulted in subsequent exhibitions of my work - "Juncture" in September 1999 at the Daiwa Foundation and "Triple Take" in May 2005 at the Embassy of Japan in London. Both exhibitions have been good opportunities to showcase new work to audiences with an interest in Japan.
What would you say to someone who was considering applying to join the Japanese Government Scholarship Programme?
Expect the unexpected! Try to be clear about your aims before you go, to make sure you get the most out of your stay, but don't forget to be flexible in your approach so that you can take advantage of unexpected opportunities or new directions in your research whilst in Japan. Make sure you make the most of all aspects of Japanese culture, not just those that are immediately related to your research. It is also a good idea to learn as much Japanese as possible before you go and make full use of the language lessons at the start of the scholarship period, as being able to speak Japanese will enrich your stay in Japan immeasurably.
