LISA KEIKO KIRTON

112 Hamilton Place
Aberdeen AB15 5BB
tel 01224 640 444
fax 01224 643 491
peterkirton@classic.msn.com

I was born in Fukuoka, Japan. I studied photography at the Kansai School of Photography prior to studying drawing under academicians between 1965 and 1972. In 1989 I branched out into sculpture, and received scholarships to study Art History and Sculpture at the Glassell School of Art in Houston, Texas. I have exhibited in the USA, the UK, Sweden and in Japan. My recent direction has been toward installations and community art, and I have had solo exhibitions in London and Aberdeen.

Line has become most important to me in my life drawings. This means much more than just outlining the body, but also I don't erase any lines once drawn, because I feel I can not erase mistakes in my life. This is also translated into my figure sculpting. When I work with metal, stone, and found objects, I always strives to communicate with the material, to get a feel for what I am working with, because I don't want to destroy its own energy, or force it in order to make a form.

EXHIBITIONS

1998
Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
UK '98 Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, "The Bridge" touring exhibition in Japan.
"Under Our Feet", Solo Exhibition, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, London
Summer Exhibition, The Lost Gallery, Strathdon, Scotland
"If Pigs Could Fly" - Group Exhibition, Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven
Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow
Lithographic Museum for the Scottish Prints, Tidaholm, Sweden
Nagano Winter Olympic International Miniature Art Exhibition, Nakano City Folk Art Museum, Japan

1997
Scottish Artists' and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
"One Step From the Womb II", Solo Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Centre, Aberdeen
Group Spring Exhibition, The Lost Gallery, Strathdon
Two person exhibition, Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven
Group Exhibition, Heinzel Gallery, Aberdeen
Three person exhibition, Gallery Center Point, Tokyo, Japan

1996
Scottish Artists' and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
"One Step From the Womb", Solo Exhibition, Diorama Arts, London

1995
Scottish Artists' and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
"Work on Paper", Seagate Gallery, Dundee

1994
Scottish Artists' and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Scottish Arts Club Exhibition, Rutland Square, Edinburgh
Rexel Derwent Open Drawing Competition , Cheltenham
"Drawing Lives", Two Person Exhibition, Aberdeen Arts Centre, Aberdeen

1993
Scottish Artists' and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Recent Work, Solo Exhibition, Heinzel Gallery, Aberdeen
Aberdeen Artists Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen

1992
"Taking A Stand" Exhibition Fire House Gallery, Houston, Texas
Juried Exhibition Glassell School of Art, Houston, Texas
Annual Member's Exhibition ( Juried by Graham Gallery), Art League of Houston, Houston, Texas
"Trail of Tears" Exhibition Fire House Gallery, Houston, Texas

1991
Juried Exhibition Glassell School of Art, Houston, Texas

1989
Aberdeen Artists Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum, Aberdeen

1985
Group Exhibition, Omell Gallery, Windsor
Accepted by the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London
Group Exhibition, Arts Center, Windsor

1984
Group Exhibition, Omell Gallery, Windsor

EDUCATION

Glassell School of Art, M.F.A, Houston, Texas - 1989 - 1992
Kansai School of Photography, Osaka, Japan - 1967
Taught by Japanese Sogenkai Academicians 1965-1972

AWARDS

Glassell School Scholarship Awards ( for sculpture ) , Fall & Spring 1992
Honorable Mention Award, Art League of Houston, May 1992
Glassell School Scholarship Awards ( for drawing ), Fall & Spring 1991

1992
Elected as an Advisory Board member to the Houston Women's Caucus for Art.

1996
Professional Member of Society of Scottish Artists and Artist Craftsmen [Sculpture]

ONE STEP FROM THE WOMB
Exhibited at Diorama Arts, London, August 1996,
& Aberdeen Art Centre, July 1997

PRESS RELEASE
"In this exhibition Lisa Keiko Kirton presents two works; the first comprising a series of photographs printed on canvas; the other an on-going piece to be contributed to by all visitors to the gallery. Lisa Keiko Kirton is interested in nature's processes and the ways objects and beings change constantly, from minute to minute caused by both internal and external forces. What is thought to be complete today is only altered to become yesterday's forgotten existence.

The completed works consist of a series of 18 photographs which depict the changes to a canvas 'left to the elements' The canvas was placed on an active driveway from which Kirton took photographs of the way it was affected by the influences of man and nature over time.

The second work is participatory. New white canvas is placed in a cross on the floor. In the middle of the cross is a child's school desk (with open lid), representing our schooldays and neglected knowledge. Our attained knowledge when combined together with human encounters helps to develop our inner self. The intention is for visitors to the gallery to leave their mark on the canvas e.g. footprints, handprints, autographs or other written words, or stains. This represents their impact in the process of change."

UNDER OUR FEET
Exhibited at Diawa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, London, June & July 1998

"After living in the North East of Scotland for nine years, I have finally begun to understand the colours and the form of the Scottish landscape.

In the early spring, tractors are busy ploughing the fields, which are often covered with snow. As the tractor turns the dark brown soil, I am vividly reminded of the earth upon which we walk. We tend to take for granted this base, or foundation of energy for all life and building.

In this exhibition, I am portraying this "earth" in a series of wall hangings and floor pieces. I laid clayey soil and snow, that came from a North East farmer, Mr. Charles Esson's field, on the paper, walked on it and left it to dry for two weeks. The other pieces are representative images drawn with pencil and charcoal.

I am asking all visitors to participate by energetically throwing a handful of clayey soil against a paper on the wall. In addition to leaving a stain on the paper, the residual pile of soil will be moulded as a sculpture at the end of the exhibition."