SUMMARY

The 2024 edition of AKIYA AIR took place in Yunotsu, continuing the mission of connecting Dutch artists with the cultural and material richness of rural Japan. Two artists were selected for the residency, both of whom demonstrated a strong interest in cross-cultural collaboration, sustainability, and working in rural environments.

Throughout their stay, the artists immersed themselves in local culture, learning traditional techniques and collaborating with local craftspeople. They created artworks that reflected the unique heritage of Yunotsu while addressing contemporary challenges such as sustainability and rural revitalization. The programme's success was evident in:

  • Strong engagement with local traditions and community members

  • Creation of high-quality artworks using natural materials

  • Positive feedback from both the artists and the Yunotsu community

  • New dialogues and connections between Japanese and Dutch creative practices

This report documents the outcomes of the AKIYA AIR 2024 and provides a foundation for future development. It serves both as a record of the programme's achievements and as a document for future subsidy applications, aimed at securing funding for upcoming editions.

Outcomes of 2024:
Artistic Exploration and Community Impact

The 2024 edition of AKIYA AIR marked an inspiring beginning for this artist-in-residence programme in Yunotsu, demonstrating the transformative power of art to bridge cultures, generations, and lifestyles. During their six-week stay, two Dutch artists—Maan Limburg and Matilde Patuelli—immersed themselves in the local environment, drawing inspiration from Yunotsu’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and vibrant community. Their projects reflect a sensitive blend of personal exploration and local collaboration. Highlights of the programme include:

  • Immersive Cultural Exchange: Artists participated in workshops and informal exchanges with craftspeople, learning skills such as pottery, woodworking, and indigo dyeing.

  • Collaborative Spirit: The programme promoted co-creation, fostering mutual respect and learning between artists and local residents.

  • Sustainability as a Theme: Both artists worked with natural and reclaimed materials, offering alternative approaches to ecological art and design.

  • Platform for Future Growth: The success of the pilot year has energized local stakeholders and provided a blueprint for expanding cultural programming in Yunotsu, with plans underway for an art festival in 2026.

Thanks to thoughtful curation, dedicated support, and strong community involvement, AKIYA AIR 2024 has established itself as a compelling model for rural artist residencies in Japan.

All photographs by Maan Limburg

Maan Limburg

Maan focused on the subtle beauty of daily life in Yunotsu, highlighting details often overlooked by residents themselves. Her project unfolded through:

  1. Story Mapping and interviews with locals to understand how they relate to their surroundings.

  2. An interactive online tour titled Ezu, offering a poetic journey through the town.

  3. A handmade booklet combining sketches, writings, and impressions, distributed locally to reconnect people with the spirit of their hometown.

Reflecting on her experience, Maan shared,

“I was surprised to find that the house in Yunotsu was a true gathering place for creatives, students, and all kinds of free-thinking people. The exchanges there gave me new insights into cultures, art, and capitalism. These conversations helped me reflect more critically on my own culture-its challenges, and its strengths-through the lens of Japanese society.”

Her work sparked meaningful dialogue within the community, with many residents expressing a renewed appreciation for the richness of everyday surroundings.

All photographs by Maan Limburg

Matilde Patuelli

Matilde responded to Yunotsu's layered history and landscape by crafting a playful and poetic intervention:

  1. Collaborating with Kamedani, a local Kawara tile maker, she created sculptural tiles inspired by regional myths and geological motifs. 

  2. These pieces became part of Fables of Water and Stone, a Geocaching art experience, where the works were hidden around town for discovery. 

  3. The project transformed public spaces into narrative playgrounds, encouraging exploration and interaction.

Matilde's installations remain in place, continuing to engage locals and visitors alike. Reflecting on her time in Yunotsu, she noted,

“To be in such a space where nature, culture, tradition, and community coexist and constantly highlight one another comes with a decisive push for inspiration and a desire to create.”

All photographs by Maan Limburg

Achievements & Contributions of AKIYA AIR 2024

KIYA AIR 2024 successfully delivered on its core objectives of cultural exchange, rural revitalization, and sustainability through creative reuse of vacant houses (akiya). Over six weeks, two Dutch artists immersed themselves in the daily life of Yunotsu, engaging in meaningful collaborations with local craftspeople and residents. Their site-specific projects exemplified the programme’s vision by blending artistic innovation with respect for local culture and ecology. The key achievements aligned with the programme’s objectives:

The key achievements aligned with the programme’s objectives:

  • Fostering Dutch-Japanese collaboration: Both artists formed strong creative partnerships with local artisans through tile-making, storytelling, and material exchange, resulting in works that reflected a true synthesis of perspectives.

  • Revitalizing rural spaces: The transformation of an empty akiya into a lively creative base showcased the potential of artistic intervention in reactivating underused spaces and fostering community engagement.

  • Promoting sustainability: Artists worked with local and natural materials, developing ecologically conscious artworks and inspiring conversations about sustainability in both art and daily life.

  • Preserving and innovating traditional craftsmanship: By learning from and working with traditional techniques (tiles manufactoring, local material sourcing, etc.), artists helped spotlight local crafts in new formats, making them visible to younger generations and wider audiences.

The final presentations—Mura no Kokoro and Fables of Water and Stone—offered accessible, participatory experiences for the community and remain as physical and digital legacies. Their inclusion in Expo 2025 Osaka also broadens international visibility for Yunotsu and the AKIYA AIR concept.