It is dangerous for many artists, who are individualists, to attempt a collaboration. But we believe it is possible within the printmaking world. Print artists require the use of both human hands and tools (traditional or new). Therefore, the artist must depend upon outside processes not only themselves. Already printmaking is a kind of collaboration with some hidden potential.
This exhibition is the result of a collaboration that we commenced in 2002. However, the first work was not complete until the fall of 2003 because we spent many months (Tokyo - Vancouver e-mails, telephone calls, faxes etc.) trying to really understand each other's interests, ideas and aesthetics. We wanted it to be a true collaboration and not merely two artists working on the same piece of paper.
The project is called, "Interconnection" because it represents an interconnection on many levels: between ourselves as individuals, our cultures (Canada / Japan), the classically etched and digital generated images, the natural, human, technological forms, even the paper (classic Japanese Washi or Western papers etc.)
Finally the works are brought to completion by another interconnection: that between our pieces and the viewer.
Wayne Eastcott & Michiko Suzuki