Language:
Japanese & English
Founded:
2022
Duration:
2 weeks
Paid by host:

To aid their research, participants are provided with free accommodation & studio space for a period of two weeks, basic transportation around the island, as well as a weekly stipend to offset day-to-day living expenses.

Paid by artist:

Fees related to transport to Ishigaki, visa processes or passport acquisition are the responsibility of the awarded residents.

Application guidelines:

Professionals and students alike are invited to apply. They are open to a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, geography, geology, oceanography, and more. They likewise welcome all art mediums, such as drawing, installation, painting, printmaking, sculpture, sound, film, writing, culinary, wearables, etc. Artists of all nationalities are welcome; however, artists will be responsible for obtaining their own visas (with a supporting letter from the organisation). Duos are welcome. Applicants must be over the age of twenty-one and have previous work available for review in a digital format. Applications can be made in Japanese or English, including:

  • 1 residency project/research proposal should be submitted in a PDF file of under 10MB, and should not exceed 3 pages
  • Supporting materials: sketches, drawings, links to video clips, or any other supporting documents for the proposal are welcomed, but not mandatory
  • 1 CV (3 pages max)
  • 5-10 images of recent work/research, or video or audio links, in a PDF file under 15 Mb

Application fee 9000 JPY (about 60 USD/ 60 EUR). The entry fee guarantees participation, but it does not guarantee selection. If not selected for the first round, applicants will receive a waiver code to apply for the second period in fall 2023. The non-refundable application fee is due at the time of submitting a completed application is only accepted online via the APPLY button. Fees related to transport to Ishigaki, visa processes or passport acquisition are the responsibility of the awarded residents. They also recommend residents to apply for extra funding and have viable health, travel and liability insurance. Ma Umi Residencies will provide the necessary documents to apply for funding or scholarship. Their accounts are certified by Tohbaru Yohkoh Tax Accounting Office, Ishigaki, Japan

Deadline:
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Ma Umi Residencies

Ma Umi Residencies

Courtesy of Ma Umi Residencies
Courtesy of Ma Umi Residencies
Description

MA UMI RESIDENCIES is a self-funded and not-for-profit, international hub for artists and researchers. Their residents concentrate on a wide range of specialisations, disciplines and practices, but come together to live and work in the Northern Peninsula of Ishigaki Island, Japan.

MA UMI RESIDENCIES is intended to create a lively platform; to collect, discuss, and experiment with the land, the ocean, and nearby communities.

Outcome

Residencies are short-term and operate as a seed. In time a new community of residents is created and encouraged to be back to the island for future projects. MA UMI RESIDENCIES is not results-driven. Residents have the possibility to present their work through an exhibition, a performance, a workshop or lead a similar event during their stay. The minimum requirement is a public presentation of their past research work and residency reflection to the local community.

Studio Information

Green Rabbit Annex is self-contained independent studio for 1 or 2 people, including an exterior workspace in the forest.

Accommodation Information

Green Rabbit (est. 2012) is MA UMI’s base, creative home and permacultural project space nested in the forest. In 2022, an additional living workshop and terrace were annexed to the main building to accommodate new, land-related activities.

Green Rabbit (est. 2012) is MA UMI’s base, creative home and permacultural project space nested in the forest. In 2022, an additional living workshop and terrace were annexed to the main building to accommodate new, land-related activities. An edible forest and permaculture garden, for instance, were developed to provide a space for critical observation of the project, conceptually and technically. The garden is enhanced with herbs and medicinal plants that are locally renowned to improve one’s health and diet. Green Rabbit is thus particularly impactful for permaculturists and artists who seek tangible exposure to their lifework.

Pink Turtle is both a home and workshop now under construction. Located across the road from Green Rabbit, it is immersed in a primary forest, mangrove, beach, and coral reef. An assemblage of pink concrete structures cascades down the slope with an imbrication of terraces above the sea. A large, protective roof provides the framework for the two buildings, weaving public and private areas together. In reference to a turtle shell sheltering everyone from the sun, rain, and typhoons, the roof interlocks with the lower terrace and the ocean space directly facing the ocean. The surrounding environment will provide marine biologists, free divers, and artists with conditions to build collective knowledge about the interdependence with the Ocean.

Blue Seahorse is a new initiative located in Hirakubo, a small, remote village stretching between farmlands and secluded beaches. The residence includes a small house and light guest house, mostly opened in the garden; glass and panels hinge at the top like flap closing during typhoons. An immersive holistic food lab will work closely with the land and community to develop innovative edible experiences. This offers a unique opportunity for chefs and culinary artists to collaborate and push cross-disciplinary boundaries.

Location

Ishigaki, an island of the Yaeyama Islands in southern Ryukyu, is about 440 kilometres southwest of Okinawa and 240 kilometres east of Taiwan. Ishigaki and the seven islands composing the Yaeyama archipelago are situated on the far southern edge of Okinawa prefecture. Famous for its clear emerald-green water and beautiful white sandy beaches, the archipelago is also promoting a positive ecological footprint adapted to the bio-cultural uniqueness of the place.

Contact information

Ishigaki, Okinawa
Japan

Email
info [at] maumiresidencies.org
Website
https://www.maumiresidencies.org/