David Nash carving in Otoineppu, February, 1994

Otoineppu is the smallest village in Hokkaido with fewer than 700 residents. The village is famous for its craftsmanship and art, and has wood carvings in many places, including the post office and railway station. David Nash and Bikky Sunazawa were inspired by Otoineppu’s pristine nature and wild forests and chose to work there.

Bikky Sunazawa (1931-1989) moved from Sapporo to Otoineppu in 1978. He spent much of his time in the nearby forests, immersing himself in nature in order to distance himself from the distractions of a rapidly changing modern society. The primaeval forests of Japanese spruce and Mongolian oak provided a vast array of materials for Bikky to experiment with and inspired his imagination. He produced many works while living in Otoineppu, surrounded by majestic nature, up to his death in 1989. The proposition of his work is as relevant today as it was then.

David Nash first visited Japan in 1982, and dreamed of travelling to and working in Japan’s northern islands one day; he longed to experience the drastic changes in the seasons. He visited Otoineppu for its trees three times during 1993 and 1994, in spring, summer and winter, to make artworks for his show “Spirit of Three Seasons” in Japan. Nash creates many of his works in North Wales and has also worked in locations across the world where he encountered new types of trees, unifying art with the natural beauty of nature. Which of Nash’s emotions were stimulated as he faced the unspoiled nature of Otoneppu? What are the characteristics of Otoineppu?

In this talk moderated by Jonathan Watkins, David Nash and Ryoko Sunazawa (Bikky’s widow) will explore artist practice in Otoineppu including the characteristics of the town, its natural environment and its seasons.