Program to invite creators of media art from foreign countries to visit Japan-Announcing the selection of three artists chosen to participate in the FY2012 Animation Artist in Residence Program

In order to contribute to the development of media arts in Japan, the Agency for Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Japan Image Council, sponsors projects to invite creators of media art from foreign countries to visit Japan. The Agency is pleased to announce the artists chosen to participate in the FY2012 Animation Artist in Residence Program. 

1. Project Summary

（1）Objective
To invite talented creators from other countries and give them the opportunity to produce a new work of art while participating in various programs including training sessions, workshops and visits to exhibitions.

（2）Conditions for application
Three young media art creators between the ages of 20 and 35

（3）Length of stay
70 days during January-March, 2013

（4）Invited artists （refer to attachment for details）
Caleb WOOD Male, United States, 24-years-old
Elli VUORINEN Female, Finland, 27-years-old
Emma DE SWAEF Female, Belgium, 27-years-old

2. Application period and total number of applicants

（1） Application Period 1 July – 10 September, 2012
（2） Number of Applicants 112 applicants from 43 countries and regions
* Please refer to the Japan Image Council for further information.

Contacts: The Japan Image Council （※ link to The Japan Image Council site ）
TEL: 03-6670-5676  FAX: 03-5466-0054

Profiles and Schedules of Invited Artists

Caleb Wood （Male/American/24）

Profile：
Born in 1988. Graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Active as an independent animation artist, his works have been screened at film festivals around the world （Little Wild （2010） Stuttgart International Animation Festival, Reykjavik International Animation Festival; Stay Home （2011） Ottawa International Animation Festival, Melbourne International Animation Festival）.
Website： Caleb D. Wood （※link to Caleb D. Wood site ）

Previous Works： Caleb D.Wood
-2010 Wake
-2010 Little Wild
-2011 Stay Home
-2012 Mobile

Project overviewduring Japan residencyGood-Bye Rabbit Hop Hop：

A drawn animation that will utilize various materials to depict the relationship between a human being trying to approach a rabbit and arabbit trying to keep a distance. It will address the relationship between humans and nature and the limits and consequences of human action.

Elli Vuorinen （Female/Finnish/27）

Profile：
Born in 1985. Graduate of the Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences. Received widespread attention in the animation world for two works made while she was still a student: Benigni （2009/co-directed with Pinja Partanen and Jasmiini Ottelinand） and The Tongueling （2010）. The Tongueling won the Tricky Women Award of the city of Vienna （main prize） and the award for Best Student Animation at Anifest 2011 in the Czech Republic.
Website： Elli Vourinen （※link to Elli Vourinen site ）

Previous Works：
2009 Benigni
2010 Kielitiettyni （The Tongueling）

Project overviewduring Japan residency：
A strange story about a girl, her past, and some socks. The artist plans to do  post-production work and complete this film while in Tokyo. This will involve the design of backgrounds inspired by Ukiyo-e and the addition of music created by a Finnish composer in collaboration with Japanese musicians/music students.

Emma De Swaef （Female/Belgian/27）

Profile：
Born in 1985. Studied documentary film at Sint-Lucas Brussels University College of Art and Design and received acclaim for Soft Plants, her graduation film in which she utilized stop-motion animation. Won the Grand Prix at the Holland International Animation Festival and Animafest Zagreb for Oh Willy… （2012/co-directed with Marc James Roels）.
Website： Emma De Swaef （※link to Emma De Swaef site）

Previous Works：
2008 Zachte Planten （Soft Plants）
2012 Oh Willy…

Project overviewduring Japan residency：
The artist will produce a single scene to be incorporated into her latest work, a dark comedy called The Magnificent Cake set during the period when Africa was being divided up by European nations. This footage will be edited into a one-minute standalone movie that will also be able to serve as a trailer for the finished work. The artist will again be working with Marc James Roels, the filmmaker she collaborated with on Oh Willy…

Artist in Residence Program Temporary Schedule

Invited artists will arrive to Japan in early January 2013
Visit 2 educational institutions
Visit 2 art studios
Present past works at screenings in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kobe
Have 3 meetings with advisory-directors
Final presentation in early March 2013
Return in mid-March 2013