DOG Sculpture 2010 by Akane Takayama

DOG: Still Going strong.

2011-01-18T12:03:00.003Z

Big thanks to Caroline and John Cameron for there message and the image of their DOG sculptures enjoying Christmas 2010. Many of you still are sending in images and I will keep you all posted when we mount the next DOG Sculpture Installation.

Thanks to you all. Akane Takayama

DOG: A Sculpture about consumerism

2011-01-18T11:57:00.000Z

The last installation of 2010

2010-08-07T16:32:00.004+01:00

So we are all ready to go and produce the final installation in Holland Park tomorrow.
This has been a long journey for the artist since she first began work with the idea in early 2007. The result of this work has planted the seedbed for her ideas on how to develop the installation. In 2011 she will be unveiling the next stages for DOG and producing some very stunning events in central London in association with major partners.

The story about the DOG sculpture and in particular the struggles the artist had to deliver this work will be the subject of a book soon to be published. We will be keeping everyone up to date on this work and provide details of the release.

Akane Takayama's DOG Sculpture Installation

2010-08-05T17:18:00.001+01:00

The DOGs are coming!

2010-08-05T00:36:00.004+01:00

Photo by Kazusa Onoe

高山あかねアーティスト　彫刻家　在英　ロンドン現代美術展覧会　DOG 2010

Next stop Holland Park, Kensington. Sunday August 8th 2010. Be there as it is the last DOG installation in this country this year.

Holland Park: The Final Installation of 2010

2010-08-04T13:49:00.003+01:00

So, this coming Sunday we have the Holland Park Installation of DOG. This promises to be every bit as exciting and popular as the last three installations.

The installation will be slightly different this time as it is being situated in the promenade entrance to the park from Knightsbridge. This is a lovely avenue of mature trees set on a grass verge either side of the main pathway.

Akane Takayama will place the installation among the trees to create a sequence of tableaux framed by the mighty boughs of the plane trees. This is a very different presentation of the sculpture and demonstrates the versatility of the artist in her locations.

Holland Park, Kensington Entrance from 12.30hrs to 16.30hrs Sunday 8th August 2010.

Be Part of the Art

DOGS at Clissold Park by Kazusa Onoe

2010-08-02T15:42:00.003+01:00

The Clissold Park, Hackney, London, installation of DOG on Saturday 31st July 2010 was very successful and very popular. the images on this page come from the Japanese blog contributor and photographer Kazusa Onoe. As one of the DOG Stewards at the installation she was able to observe the sculpture throughout the day. Her photographs provide an idea of the scale of this work and some of the forms the artist manages to create within the installation.

Almost everyone who attended spoke highly of the work and participated to the full. People spent a long time walking around the DOGs and reading the messages of hope for the future contributed to the installation by over 500 children in local primary schools.

An example of some of the hundreds of messages of hope from the children. There are more on this blog and in time all of the messages will be here on line.

Kazusa has captured here a wonderful image of the DOGs stretching off into the distance.

And as we look at this image we can see how the artist's placement, the inter-relation with landscape and the strong form of the sculptures all combine to produce combinations which
present different viewpoints.

Clissold Park, now there are more DOGs out there!

2010-08-01T20:45:00.005+01:00

The installation at Clissold Park was a great success. We have spent today tired and worn out after having completed delivery of the installation and a very long day.

Already the images are flowing in and we will be getting them up on line. The image above has come in from Oxford! So yesterday's DOGs have already started their individual journies!

We intend to publish all photographs of the DOGs but do not want to publish any images with children in for obvious reasons. Maybe a sign of a sad world but no need to take any chance
where their welfare is concerned.

Equally, with adults in images with DOG sculptures maybe it would be kind of you to state in a text or e-mail if you want us to post the image freely on the web.

The real beauty is that if you gather images of the DOGs within your own creative reference, then there are none of these more mundane problems. The image above is a good case in point, consider what this image conveys to you in terms of ideas.

Many thanks to all the people who came. You are now all in possession of a limited number of Takayama original sculptures which you can now use to create your own artist images. As a public art sculpture this artist conceived of the idea that she is working beyond the conformity of a gallery or installation but to see the process of 'public art' to move beyond public ownership and into public creativity.

Holland Park is the final physical installation, Sunday 8th August, and after that there are a finite number of DOG sculptures out in the world. Some may be discarded, some may be treasured, some may be forgotten but then what turns up from this art is, once Holland Park is complete, the creative input of you.

We can't wait to see what will happen.

Clissold Park 31st July 2010

2010-07-30T09:02:00.002+01:00

This image is from the installation at Victoria Park but now we are all looking forward to the installation at Clissold Park, tomorrow, 31st July 2010 from 12.30hrs.

The weather is threatening to be a bit rainy in the morning, the wind may blow a bit but the afternoon should be dry and quite warm. All the preparations are in hand, the team will gather at 10.00hrs tomorrow in the park and we should have all the DOGs in place by 12.30.

IT WILL BE BRILLIANT.

Children's Messages of Hope for the Future

2010-07-29T14:19:00.003+01:00

DOG Sculpture Installation: Sculptural Evolution.

2010-07-16T15:19:00.003+01:00

Once you have claimed your DOG Sculpture at one of the installation events then you can join in with the ongoing public art which will build to a stunning climax next year.

The first part of the evolution is to take your DOG home and photograph all of the situations it gets into. These photographs can then be sent to a central archive by e-mail: dog@takethepebble.com

Once there they will be archived and displayed in an on line gallery. In this way the dynamic of the sculpture grows and it is the members of the public who become the artists and set the DOG within a context.

The photographs can also be posted on social networking sites and you can join the artist at Akane Takayama DOG Sculpture Installation on Facebook. Twitter news will be found through the HumanRightsTV twitter acount.

As the on line exhibition grows all involved will then be invited to take part in a very special and currently very secret event in which the installation will go international. Every member of the DOG art community will receive a credit for their work and several top public galleries will be involved.

DOG Sculpture Installation: Clissold Park 31st July 2010 from 12.30
Holland Park 8th August 2010 from 12.30

HumanRightsTV Tweet covers DOG Sculpture Installation

2010-07-11T12:13:00.003+01:00

You can follow the DOG Sculpture Installation on Twitter at HumanRightsTV and on Facebook at DOG Sculpture Installation.

http://tweetphoto.com/32072828

Sotoko and her DOG

2010-07-09T22:27:00.007+01:00

This video is in Japanese but even so we can clearly see how people react to the DOG Sculptures. Sotoko was one of the volunteers who helped to marshall the event at Paradise Gardens and, like all the volunteers, she too wanted a DOG Sculpture.

Colvestone School, Hackney

2010-07-04T22:38:00.001+01:00

Our Lady and St Joseph's, Hackney

2010-07-04T22:33:00.004+01:00

Bonner School, Tower Hamlets

2010-07-04T22:28:00.002+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.
For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

No words necessary here, these sculptures speak for themselves. The untutored eye might see the use of a template here but using a template in designing a sculpture is a skill in itself. The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Bangabandhu School, Tower Hamlets

2010-07-04T22:04:00.003+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

No words necessary here, these sculptures speak for themselves. The untutored eye might see the use of a template here but using a template in designing a sculpture is a skill in itself. The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Satoko's DOG goes walkies

2010-07-04T14:39:00.004+01:00

Satoko loves her DOG Sculpture and takes him everywhere with her. This constant compainion is reliable and trustworthy and like any good dog always stays still when told to.

Satoko's DOG sculpture loves a really good hole in the ground.

After a good digging around there is nothing like a bit to eat and a drink!

Careful you don't over do it!

Home again soon!

St Scholasticas School, Hackney

2010-06-28T13:46:00.002+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Burbage School, Hackney

2010-06-28T13:45:00.001+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Baden Powell School, Hackney.

2010-06-28T13:43:00.003+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Stewart Hedlam School, Tower Hamlets

2010-06-28T13:41:00.002+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

For example, three dimensional models of whales and orca where the detail of the whale spouting is rendered. If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

St John's School, Tower Hamlets

2010-06-28T13:40:00.001+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

No words necessary here, these sculptures speak for themselves. The untutored eye might see the use of a template here but using a template in designing a sculpture is a skill in itself. The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Nightingale School, Tower Hamlets

2010-06-28T13:39:00.001+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

No words necessary here, these sculptures speak for themselves. The untutored eye might see the use of a template here but using a template in designing a sculpture is a skill in itself. The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

Mowlem School, Tower Hamlets

2010-06-28T13:37:00.002+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

No words necessary here, these sculptures speak for themselves. The untutored eye might see the use of a template here but using a template in designing a sculpture is a skill in itself. The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

Malmesbury School, Tower Hamlets

2010-06-28T13:35:00.002+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.

The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Harbinger School, Tower Hamlets

2010-06-28T13:32:00.004+01:00

One of the underpinning principles of the DOG Sculpture Installation was the desire of the artist to provide something of value to her community. As a consequence she has set up and run sculpture workshops for primary school children in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The idea behind these was not to bring the children into the DOG Sculpture as "workers" or "contributors" but to bring them in as artistic partners.

For this to work Takayama provided the structure of a sculpture making workshop but did not define the form. In this manner the children, with their teacher, could decide on their own artistic ambitions within the remit of their existing educational programme. The idea was for the children to create their own sculpture which they could see in the context of Takayama's public art work and perhaps consider their own artistic future in the process.

The educational benefits of spatial awareness, three dimensional sculpture construction and then the public acclaim of having your work on public display (both in local venues and on this site) should be self evident.

What continually surprises is the quality of work 8 year old children are capable of when they work with an artist. Some of the drawing skills, some of the conceptualisation and all of the unbounded enthusiasm are simply to be marvelled at.

For example, three dimensional models of whales and orca where the detail of the whale spouting is rendered. If we just consider some of the form these children have presented with their drawings, the drawings which are the basis of the model design, then we really have to question why more art workshops are not provided for children in inner city areas.

Rabbits! No words necessary here, these sculptures speak for themselves. The untutored eye might see the use of a template here but using a template in designing a sculpture is a skill in itself. The purpose of the workshops was to give the children the opportunity to realise spatial awareness, management of projects, design, construction and delivery within the activity of being an artist. All of these skills are valuable educational experiences and reinforce the core curriculum activities but where, especially for children from inner city communities, this approach really has value is in the public presentation of the end results and the consequent approval each child receives for themselves and their work.

Each school involved in the workshops took their own approach, tailored the sculpture construction to relate to existing classroom deliveries. This is the advantage to the schools and the teachers of the approach Akane Takayama has taken; she hasn't sought to impose an "art agenda" on the schools but provide an "art opportunity" which the schools can fit within their own educational management schedule and adapt the workshop content to support that schedule.
The skills and imagination are plain for all to see. As you look through these models consider the detail and imagination these children have employed.

Paradise Gardens 19 & 20.06.2010

2010-06-24T15:15:00.006+01:00

DOG Sculpture Installation 2010 by Akane Takayama
Paradise Gardens, Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London

These photographs come from both Saturday and Sunday and show some of the organisation and delivery management behind this project. The artist had worked for several years before hand creating the models, designing delivery, structuring a community benefit within a social inclusion remit and paying attention to every small detail. Behind her a management team and a group of volunteers built up an operational and marketing plan which all contributed to make the installations a very popular success. The image above shows the start of the day when the management centre (tent) has been set up and the DOG sculptures are starting to be laid in place by Akane Takayama.

Once the artist has taken time to place and arrange the DOG sculptures the team of volunteers then peg them into the ground.

The essence of the art of Takayama is the way in which she places and juxtaposes the elements of her sculptures. To the untutored eye all you see is a load of cardboard dogs, all basically identical, all with the minimal amount of personal character. They look like they are simple to make and to many it would be something you could probably just "knock up" in an hour. However, that is the heart of this artist's skill, to be able to put together an installation of this scale and yet retain a sense of simplicity and naturalness is no easy task.

Once the sculptures are in place they form connections and relationships which are compelling for the audience. Throughout the two days people were quite simply enchanted by this piece of public art sculpture.

The volunteers moved amongst the crowd giving out leaflets and posters and talking to the audience. All of these volunteers reported that people were fascinated and asked all sorts of questions about the artist, the sculpture and the role of art in the community.

One of the features of this work was that the artist went to primary schools throughout the area and ran one day workshops for year 4 to 6 children in model making. The children were encouraged to develop their own model making skills and understand sculpture through planning and spacial awareness.

At the end of each session the children were asked to write of their hope for the future. These messages were tucked into the back of the neck of the DOG.

Throughout the two days people went from DOG to DOG reading the messages of hope from the children.

This aspect of the sculpture was very important. The DOGS in themselves are in effect clones, each as similar as possible to the next. A pack of uniformity where all identity can only really be that which the viewer brings to the installation.

Yet once the panorama has been grasped and the audience move to interact they find that each DOG is personalised by the message of hope each one holds from the young children of the borough. As they moved from DOG to DOG the audience began to identify personally with individual sculptures.

During the course of the installation people want to move the DOGS, children want to carry them off, bash them, cuddle them or just tear their ears and tails off. Our team of volunteers spent the days replacing and repairing the DOGS. We took the position that this interaction was an intrinsic part of the installation, as the public interacted the installation changed and moved in response to that interaction. The public, unwittingly were manipulating the installation and adding to it in their interaction and thereby re-defining its appearance.

The last act of the installation was for the volunteer team to gather the DOGS together and then they were handed out to the audience. We were overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to take and possess a DOG. Grown men begged for one, children wept for one, some people lied in an attempt to get one, some tried emotional blackmail but most just stood patiently in line waiting for the chance to own one. But the moment I will never forget is when a child in tears because all of the DOGS had gone was handed one of the sculptures by a young man who had been desperate to get his own DOG. That was a moment re-afffirmed our own common humanity, our ability to share and our ability to care.

DOG Sculpture Installation 2010 Part One: A Success

Next: Clissold Park, Hackney 31st July 2010
and
Holland Park, Kensington 8th August 2010

Where's Your DOG

2010-06-24T14:08:00.002+01:00

Once you have taken ownership of your own part of this amazing public art sculpture, once you have taken your DOG away, where does it go to, what does it do? The artist is providing the chance for all who have participated in the sculpture to photograph their DOG in the places where it finds itself. These images can be posted here or onto the Facebook

Paradise Gardens goes barking!

2010-06-22T00:04:00.005+01:00

Well we had a very good couple of days in Paradise gardens. The DOG Sculpture Installation was very, very popular and all claimed to love the DOGS. The picture above was sent to us by someone travelling home from the festival and seeing one of the DOG sculptures on the tube being taken home by an eager "owner". If you have a photograph of your DOG model in an unusual place or even in your home, if you have posted an image of your DOG model on Facebook or the like, then lets us know. Let's see how we can extend the sculpture beyond the park.

Send images to akane@takethepebble.com

Urban Design and Print

2010-06-15T14:38:00.004+01:00

The DOG Sculpture Installation project has used Urban Design for all its printing needs. The reason why we use Urban is very simple; customer service. The artist and HumanRightsTV have used Urban in the past and we have always found polite, fast and efficient customer service and we value that highly. Needless to say, the product has always been of a good and reliable standard.

See Urban for yourself

Councillor Joshua Peck, Deputy Leader Tower Hamlets Council.

2010-06-14T10:56:00.001+01:00

Katie Mik talks about the project.

2010-06-14T10:53:00.001+01:00

Children's Sculpture On Line Exhibition 04

2010-05-31T17:53:00.004+01:00

Children's Sculpture On Line Exhibition 03

2010-05-31T17:46:00.005+01:00

The children who have been participating in the workshops with the artist Akane Takayama have produced some outstanding work. "They ask intelligent questions, understand the process and enjoy the skills involved in three dimensional sculpture making. Some of these children are clearly very talented." the artist said.

A small exhibition has been mounted in the Ideas Store in Bow displaying some of the sculptures produced by children from Tower Hamlets schools. The image above shows the display from one school.

You will be able to see some of these models on display at the Paradise Gardens installation of DOG on the 19th and 20th June 2010 in Victoria Park, London E3.

When you consider the skills the children have employed it becomes more obvious how they actually benefit in a wider educational remit from these workshops. Children have to consider planning, construction methods, research of materials and tools needed and then employ skills in the manufacture of their model. The artist believes that all of these skills can lead into other lessons such as maths, English composition and science.

This group photograph displays not only the variety of models the children conceived but also demonstrates their skills at building the forms and a talent in the use of colour. One of the important elements of the DOG Sculpture Installation was that the children create their own models. The artist wanted to deliver a social inclusion project which empowered the children to see their own potentials in public art rather than just use their skills to help create the artist's work.

Whilst these three dimensional models are of a small scale and relatively thin in the body all of the skills needed to create these sculptures are scalable. That means that what the children have learnt in this scale can be used and transferred to larger scale models. More importantly they have been taught the process of planning and thought which goes behind the work of an artist and been given the opportunity to see themselves as artists in society.

Children's Sculpture On Line Exhibition 02

2010-05-31T17:38:00.003+01:00

The children who have been participating in the workshops with the artist Akane Takayama have produced some outstanding work. "They ask intelligent questions, understand the process and enjoy the skills involved in three dimensional sculpture making. Some of these children are clearly very talented." the artist said.

A small exhibition has been mounted in the Ideas Store in Bow displaying some of the sculptures produced by children from Tower Hamlets schools. The image above shows the display from one school.

You will be able to see some of these models on display at the Paradise Gardens installation of DOG on the 19th and 20th June 2010 in Victoria Park, London E3.

This group photograph displays not only the variety of models the children conceived but also demonstrates their skills at building the forms and a talent in the use of colour. One of the important elements of the DOG Sculpture Installation was that the children create their own models. The artist wanted to deliver a social inclusion project which empowered the children to see their own potentials in public art rather than just use their skills to help create the artist's work.

When you consider the skills the children have employed it becomes more obvious how they actually benefit in a wider educational remit from these workshops. Children have to consider planning, construction methods, research of materials and tools needed and then employ skills in the manufacture of their model. The artist believes that all of these skills can lead into other lessons such as maths, English composition and science.

Whilst these three dimensional models are of a small scale and relatively thin in the body all of the skills needed to create these sculptures are scalable. That means that what the children have learnt in this scale can be used and transferred to larger scale models. More importantly they have been taught the process of planning and thought which goes behind the work of an artist and been given the opportunity to see themselves as artists in society.

Children's Sculpture On Line Exhibition

2010-05-31T15:16:00.006+01:00

The children who have been participating in the workshops with the artist Akane Takayama have produced some outstanding work. "They ask intelligent questions, understand the process and enjoy the skills involved in three dimensional sculpture making. Some of these children are clearly very talented." the artist said.

A small exhibition has been mounted in the Ideas Store in Bow displaying some of the sculptures produced by children from Tower Hamlets schools. The image above shows the display from one school.
This group photograph displays not only the variety of models the children conceived but also demonstrates their skills at building the forms and a talent in the use of colour. One of the important elements of the DOG Sculpture Installation was that the children create their own models. The artist wanted to deliver a social inclusion project which empowered the children to see their own potentials in public art rather than just use their skills to help create the artist's work.
When you consider the skills the children have employed it becomes more obvious how they actually benefit in a wider educational remit from these workshops. Children have to consider planning, construction methods, research of materials and tools needed and then employ skills in the manufacture of their model. The artist believes that all of these skills can lead into other lessons such as maths, English composition and science.

Models have come in all shapes and sizes and the way the three dimensional works have been created so that they "stand" gives a fascinating insight into the creative powers of these children. With the whale and the fish sculptures above fins and flukes have been used to "stand" the sculptures. An enterprising teacher should then be able to use these models as part of an explanation of evolution and how the first animals came out onto the land. The whale of course represents a return to the sea by animals whose flukes were originally legs.

As we can see in the sculptures of cats above, sometimes the effect appears humorous to the adult eye, however, this may not be the intention of the "artist". Yet we would have to be very dull indeed if we did not respond to the undeniable charm of some of these sculptures.

Whilst these three dimensional models are of a small scale and relatively thin in the body all of the skills neded to create these sculptures are scalable. That means that what the children have learnt in this scale can be used and transferred to larger scale models. More importantly they have been taught the process of planning and thought which goes behind the work of an artist and been given the opportunity to see themselves as artists in society.

You will be able to see some of these models on display at the Paradise Gardens installation of DOG on the 19th and 20th June 2010 in Victoria Park, London E3.

Children's Exhibition at The Ideas Store in Bow

2010-05-23T15:01:00.010+01:00

The Ideas Store Bow present Models from
the DOG Sculpture Workshops.

On Saturday 23.05.2010 the models from some of the schools in Tower Hamlets which have participated in the model making workshops went on public display. Akane Takayama installed and exhibition of models from Marion Richardson, Bonner and Hermitage schools in Tower Hamlets. Below are the images of the display.

Marion Richardson School went with a theme of birds in their model making class. As you can see not only did they produce creative work but the pupils learnt something of the principles of 3D model construction.

Hermitage School produced some very interesting material and special attention should be drawn to the four legged duck. As with the other schools the models are a definitive example of the imagination and ability of the children within these communities.

Bonner School children provided models that really were outstanding in terms of concept and design. The children found in the workshop not only a means to express themselves but also a forum for asking truly pertinent questions about art.

The pictures below show how the public exhibition within the Ideas Store has been presented.

Exhibition of Childrens Models at the Idea Store

2010-05-15T15:05:00.002+01:00

Date : 19th May to 25th May

Idea Store Bow
1 Gladstone Place
London
E3 5ES
Tel: 020 7364 5771/ 5776

There will be an exhibition of some of the childrens' models from the workshop element of this project at The Idea Store in Bow, East London. This is a major cultural resource in Tower Hamlets and provides a base from which learning and understanding can grow.

We are very grateful to The Ideas Store for providing space for an exhibition of the childrens models and hope that all who go to see them will enjoy the installation. Below is a video about The Ideas Store.

Go to Idea Store Web Site

The children say it all.

2010-05-14T13:29:00.003+01:00

With the workshops now in full flow the results being produced are looking very interesting. The children are producing their own models and appear very happy with the artist's involvement with them. There is another side to the project which is the children's involvement with the actual installation.

At the back of the neck of the DOG sculptures there is a small "pocket" into which will go slips collected form the pupils. These slips contain a simple aspiration, the children's expression of a wish for the future. As we have been looking at these "messages" we have wondered what they say about us and our society.

Given the freedom to express themselves in this way we find that the messages are full of hope, full of expressions to create a better world and some are surprisingly perceptive about the issues our planet now faces. The possibility to make the world a better place appears as a core understanding that these 7 to 9 year old children have. One wonders what exactly happens to these insights and desires as they travel through the education system and take their place in the world of adults.

Somehow, we feel that these messages really demand to be heard so we will be publishing some of them here as the project continues. Obviously we are not correcting spelling as the meaning is always, mostly, clear.

"I wish that no-one was poor, and that there was no war."

"I wish that nobody had to live out side and they had there own homes"

"How I would like to change the world, is that if people would help the enviroment and save the animals from extinction. I say this is because we make pollution and that makes are animals in danger of extinction"

"I wish there was no poor or rich (we should be as one)"

"Do be honest"

"I wish the Govement stopped gangstas"

"I wish that the gun crimes stops"

"I wish monkeys stops eating bananas because they eat too much."

"Respect everyone and be equal even if you're black or white it doesn't matter just care for each other rich or poor and don't forget no more war and defeat together and no more pollution."

"I wish that whales and dolphins don't become rare in the future."

"I hope all babys who enter this world, enter this world with peace."

"more science"

"I wish no one is rude to each other."

Do respect property and do be gentle."

"Do good work because work is good."

"I wish that there were no bullies and no one got hurt."

"I wish for people stop killing and I wish for a dog and a cat."

"Stop poverty please."

"To have everyone treated equally eg: no poverty."

"I wish everyone in a safe position."

"I wish that the earth will never die."

"I wish there was no crime"

I wish tigers don't become extinct, and all the other big scary animals because some of the people are scared"

"I hope all crimes in the world stops"

"I would like the world to be helpful"

"Give the por [sic] people money and help them work and they will get money from work please and people that I know is por"

"I wish that Africa had more food."

"I wish that every country should have enough food, so we don't die!"

"I would like the world to be good"

"I would like the world to be friends"

"I wish I could fly to the earth"

"I will like people to be happy"

"I will like everyone to be good"

"I wish there was no wars"

Andy Kneebone, Hackney Events Manager

2010-05-11T14:19:00.002+01:00

Andy Kneebone talks about the DOG Sculpture Installation and the role of the events team in providing great projects for the population of Hackney.

Childrens-Models

2010-05-11T13:56:00.007+01:00

The workshops have begun and appear to be a great success with the children. The models they are producing are now gaining in number and some are truly impressive. Here is a small gallery of just a few of the examples.

Workshops Commence

2010-05-02T13:35:00.003+01:00

One of the elements of the DOG Sculpture Installation has been to include workshops for children in 19 primary schools local to the parks where the installation will be completed. The aim of these workshops is to provide an opportunity for the children to construct their own animal sculptures and learn about the process of model making.

Akane Takayama will be going into the schools to provide a structured delivery of model making which works from design to completion. Once the models have been completed they will be exhibited in the schools with a selection of the best then going into local libraries and other locations to provide the children with their own public art installations.

In addition, it is hoped to display some of the childrens work alongside the installation in the parks. We will be keeping you posted about the progress of the workshops as they develop.

Paradise Gardens, Victoria Park, E3

2010-04-26T15:40:00.004+01:00

Paradise Gardens, Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets

The DOG Sculpture Installation will be at the Paradise Gardens event in Victoria Park on 19th and 20th June 2010.

Other Sculptures by Akane Takayama

2010-04-25T17:53:00.008+01:00

Akane Takayama produces sculptures which always create intrigue. Her work relies on subtle challenges posed by the use of juxtaposition. In form, material and construction the art of Takayama places improbable combinations in harmony with each other.

In the "Ziggurat of Dreams" (seen above in her studio) a city arises in a gathering of competing forms from a milky wave. The precision required to produce a work where the detail broaches the viewer's resistance to the sculpture's reality is the hallmark of this artist's work.

In the Avenger series, an example of which is above, the forms are strong and convey to the viewer a familiarity which on closer inspection is simply a trick of the mind. What is this sculpture shown above? Do you see a 'head'? Do you see an animal or maybe an insect? Surely this is none of these things, all we see are the contours and weighty solidity of an item of mythic quality. In the questions Takayama sets within her work we find ourselves connecting to this art and discovering something more about our world.

See More of Takayama's Sculpture

DOG Sculpture Installation: Arts Council Grant Award

2010-04-25T17:05:00.004+01:00

We are very pleased to announce that Akane Takayama's application for funding to the Arts Council was successful and the DOG Sculpture Installation has been awarded a grant to cover a substantial portion of the cost of this work.

DOG Sculpture Installation: Field Test

2010-04-25T14:58:00.006+01:00

We have recently completed a "field test" with a small sample of the models at London Fields in Hackney, East London. This was an exciting opportunity to get a good idea on both the durability of the installation, there was a good breeze blowing, and the level of interest it would generate.

As can be seen in the image above, once the artist starts to create the relationships between the DOG models they are transformed from relatively simple and straightforward cardboard and paper models into an installation public art work. When Takayama began to develop this project many people unconnected with the world of contemporary art could only see "cardboard dog models" and viewed the project as "a bit of fun". Once in installation however people were drawn to the field test from far and wide across London Fields.

Whilst small children would come tottering over, hands outstretched with wide eyes and big grins, parents would want to know "What is it? What is it for?". The artist explained patiently about the concept and what she was going to be doing at the Create Festival in Victoria Park on the 19th and 20th of June 2010. The response was universal, everyone loved what they were hearing and enthusiastically said they would come and see the full installation.

All afternoon of the field test people came by and took pictures with their mobile phones and digital cameras. As they realised that the field test represented a small sample, the final installation would be more than ten times the number of DOG Sculptures we had out that afternoon their eyes widened in disbelief.

"This is totally amazing I can't wait to see the full thing, it will be awesome." said Andy Benson who was in the park with his 8 year old daughter.

Yes Andy, it will be amazing and when people see the installation we are confident they will never forget it.

Akane Takayama, some background.

2009-11-23T00:17:00.007Z

Akane Takayama has been delivering top quality art and sculptures for more than 25 years now.
There is something about her art which draws the audience into a world which fascinates as much as it challenges. The detail at small scale in her work provides for a reality that somehow seems beyond our own world. This counter reality is always set within a form or shape which whilst appearing to be natural in form on further examination is actually nothing more than a construction of perspectives which seductively play on our imagination.

"Evolution" (2005) by Akane Takayama

Go To Akane's Web Site

Video Courtesy of Artists for Human Rights

Evolution expresses the distance between the primal rock of the earth and our ability to
communicate far beyond our own immediate environment. This distance between the
physical and the intellectual spaces is as vast and lonely as the deepest space.

Takayama's work carries the idea of juxtaposition, a dynamic between shapes, materials and construct which brings seemingly implausible connections together. The inspiration for her work comes from her identity of a person from one culture who has settled, lived and worked in another culture. As she has said, "If you leave the land and place of your birth to live in a culture that is alien to you then there has to be something wrong in your relationship with your cultural homeland."

This sense of 'something wrong' whispers constantly in Takayama's work. Her sculptures are possessed of clean precise lines which flow through the form with stunning precision. She places the incongruous into a harmonic partnership which is contained and made credible by the disciplined perspectives she always maintains. The questions which naturally spring from seeing her work are compelling however, when presented with the sculptures themselves, the viewer becomes drawn into a world of colour painted in a pallette made vibrant by the shadows created in the shapes.

Akane Takayama

DOG Sculpture 2010: Open Studio 20 11 2009

2009-11-22T23:58:00.002Z

Akane Takayama invited some of those involved in the delivery of the DOG Sculpture 2010 to her studio in Hackney last Friday. There was the opportunity to meet and discuss the project as well as enjoy some wine and Takayama's home made sushi.

Everyone also had the chance to see her set of instruction videos that are now released on her web site. These are designed to assist the team of artist who will be making the final construction of the installation. In addition, the schools participating in the social inclusion element can also make use of these videos to initiate preparatory lessons prior to the workshop delivery.

All in all people had an interesting time and also got the chance to see some of Takayama's other sculpture work.

DOG Sculpture 2010: The Social Inclusion Element

2009-11-22T23:34:00.002Z

The DOG sculpture project is first and foremost an art project by an establlshed London sculptor. The social inclusion element of this project is an additional benefit and a feature of the artist's ongoing commitment to inspiring youth to see art as an achievable career as well as assisting the sicially excluded to see art spaces as part of their own cultural space.

This committment is founded on the experience of being from the Japanese culture but living and working in London over the past 30 years as a representative of a minority community. Akane Takayama knows and understands the experience of feeling like an outsider, she knows and understands the struggle for women in certain cultures to assert themselves and most importantly she believes in fine art as a way of life.

The Social Inclusion element has one fundamental aim and that is to demonstrate to young people exacly how a public art sculpture is created and delivered and in so demonstrating create the belief in them that they could be artists. Alongside the idea of the inaccessibility of art there lies another strand where knowledge is lacking and that is exactly how an installation is conceived, planned, developed and installed. This lack of knowledge in the process further alienates the possibility of art as a career from the young mind; if you do not understand what it all entails then how can you possibly credibly aspire to be an artist?

Takayama and her team will be delivering workshops to selected classes of London primary schools in the art of model making. This essential skill which lies at the heart of any sculpture is a basis from which future development can be achieved. The workshops will be designed so that they follow introductions in earlier classes to the process of conception, design and construction in model making. The series of videos on Takayama's web site can be used by teachers as tasters before lessons on model making. As most classrooms have computers, digital projectors and whiteboards, it is a straightforeward task for the teacher to 'stream' the video for the children to watch before commencing a class in model making.

By the time that the artist delivers the workshop to the students they should already have a good idea of the materials, design, and construction method of an animal model of their choice. During the workshop they will have a chance to work with Takayama in the construction of their models and discuss the process of delivering a public sculpture.

Whilst it is always good to involve young people in art and open possibilities to them, nothing inspires them more than seeing their art on public display. Therefore the intention of the DOG Social Inclusion Project is that the models made with Takayama go on public display. This will give the children the opportunity to take their parents and families out into the community to see their own models. Working with museums, galleries and local businesses the DOG Social Inclusion Project will create an extended gallery within the community which will run prior to and in conjunction with the installation.

This community gallery will involve local arts facilities, local social facilities and local businesses with the event of the installation and demonstrate to the children that it is possible to get their art into the public eye. This will also provide an opportunity for the children to bring their families into cultural spaces they may not normally feel ownership of.

In addition, during the workshop delivery, the children will be asked to write a message of hope for the future. This message will be tied around the necks of the DOGS which are in the final installations. The idea of this element is to encourage the children to come to the installation with their families and seek out the DOG with their message around its neck. This creates another opportunity for the families to enter into a cultural space, that of a public art installation, which they would normally not feel was in their own cultural remit.

At the time that this description of the DOG Social Inclusion Project is written one museum, one large company represented across East London and several other institutions have expressed a clear interest to be involved in this project. In addition, suggestions have also been made to include adults from excluded communities and youth groups. All in all this project has a powerful dynamic of social value which is about to be realised because of two years of background work by Akane Takayama.

Akane Takayama, an artist in London

2009-11-19T15:37:00.016Z

Akane Takayama has been working as an artist in London
for the last twenty five years. She has exhibited at:

Pomeroy Purdy Gallery, London (1992)
Atlantis Gallery, London (1992)
Daiwa Foundation, London (1995)
Blue Gallery, London (1995)
Mizuma Fine Art, Tokyo (1995)
Henry Peacock Gallery, London (2001)
Chelsea Physic Garden Sculpture Show, London (2002)
Domo Ball Gallery, London (2002)
Short listed for the Jerwood Drawing Prize (2002)
Cafe Gallery Projects, London (2004)
Space Open Exhibition London (2005)
Sefton Open , Merseyside (2006)

Collage (2007) The Princess and The Dragon

Her work reveals the journey of an artist from one distinct cultural background developing her insights within the space of, what is for her, an alien cultural space. Throughout her work there is a tension between scale and perspective that creates a discourse on cultural iconography. To be an artist moving to a different culture as a young woman and then having to work hard, often in isolation, to establish herself both on the material and artistic levels provides an underlying strength to her work which provides real credibility.

Institution places buildings, maybe a town, maybe a fortress, into our sight. All is shockingly normal, all is precise, a statement of cultural architecture, a construct of built space, strangely recognisable, radiating a beguiling warmth from its cold emptiness.

video courtesy of Artists for Human Rights Channel

Akane Takayama,

2009-11-19T11:53:00.008Z

Antipathy is a strongly opposed feeling and in this work what is seemingly natural is clearly unnatural. When the parts are considered, the form studied and the scale weighed up then
there should be no way that we feel this sculpture to be an act of nature.

Takayama's work carries the idea of juxtaposition, a dynamic between shapes, materials and construct which brings seemingly implausible connections together. The inspiration for her work comes from her identity as a person from one culture who has settled, lived and worked in another culture. As she has said, "If you leave the land and place of your birth to live in a culture that is alien to you then there has to be something wrong in your relationship with your cultural homeland."

This sense of 'something wrong' whispers constantly in Takayama's work. Her sculptures are possessed of clean precise lines which flow through the form with stunning precision. She places the incongruous into a harmonic partnership which is contained and made credible by the disciplined perspectives she always maintains. The questions which naturally spring from seeing her work are compelling however and when presented with the sculptures themselves, the viewer becomes drawn into a world of colour painted in a pallette made vibrant by the shadows created in the shapes.

Akane Takayama
(b. 1957, Tokyo, Japan.)

"Antipathy" (2005) Akane Takayama

Go To Akane's Web Site

Video Courtesy of Artists for Human Rights