Featured AASRN member

Mayu Kanamori

Mayu Kanamori - 'would you mind if I settle here'

The AASRN current featured member is freelance photo journalist, writer, radio broadcaster and photo media artist, Mayu Kanamori. Mayu was raised in Roppongi, Tokyo where her family still lives. She was educated at the American School in Japan and grew up bilingual in English and Japanese. She migrated to Australia in 1981 and studied philosophy and writing at Toorak College in Melbourne. Mayu started her career in journalism in 1992 as a researcher and photographer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers' Tokyo Bureau.

As an artist, Mayu employs her experience as a journalist to create multi media art documentaries, working in collaboration with artists from other disciplines, including theatre and installation works. She exhibits her work in galleries and in theatre venues, often as part of arts festivals in Australia and overseas.

She is the creator and director of The Heart of the Journey, and has received a commendation for United Nations Media Peace Award Promotion of Multicultural Issues in 2000 for its radio program on ABC Radio National. She is also the recipient of the 2001 Broome NAIDOC Non Indigenous Reconciliation Award for the sound and slide documentary performance The Heart of the Journey. Her radio feature Chika was finalist for 2004 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism. In 2005, Mayu's digital and photographic works have been chosen as finalist for 2005 Harries National Digital Awards, 2005 Olive Cotton National Photographic Portrait Awards, and 2005 Conrad Jupiter's National Art Prize.

As a photo journalist, Mayu has contributed to a wide range of publications including magazines, newspapers, and news services both Australian and international. Mayu has taken the photographs for six books. She is a member of Sydney based photographic group Broken Bench and is a board member of The Koto Music Institute of Australia.

Mayu's recent and upcoming projects include:

IN REPOSE

In Repose - Mayu Kanamori

Exhibition: 1st April - 14th of May
Artist's talk & performances: 10th April, 1st & 13th May

Photography: Mayu Kanamori
Dance/Choreography/Text: Wakako Asano
Koto Music: Satsuki Odamura
Sound Design: Vic McEwan

Gallery opening times:
1 April - 14th of May
Mon - Fri 11am - 4pm
Sat (10/4 & 01/5) 1pm-4pm
Closed public holidays & May 3

Artists' Performative Lectures:
10 April (Sat) 1pm-2:30pm
1 May (Sat) 1pm-2:30pm
13 May (Thurs) 7pm-8:30pm
RSVP Essential

The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Level 1, Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square Sydney
Tel: +61-2-8239-0055

In In Repose, photography is merged with dance, koto music, visual projection, soundscapes and installation; and together, it is an artistic homage to the deceased. It explores the migrant's connection to their adopted land, lost memories and the relationships that have developed since. It is a tribute specifically dedicated to the Japanese migrants who are buried away from their native homeland and the local Australian communities who are looking after their graves until this day.

In Repose is a requiem: a work of kuyo, a Japanese term, which describes an act of ceremonial prayer or offering to respect, honour and calm the spirits of the departed.

More Info:

http://www.mayu.com.au/folio/inrepose

Or snippet YouTube video here

Press Release attached below