The main goal of this show is to bring together artists who live and work in the UK along with artists in Japan and Korea. Our belief as a multicultural creative force is that there is no such thing as a dominant culture. Consequently, features from different countries could co-exist, the boundaries of every nation acquiring a global recognition. All artists in this show have been studying abroad, away from their native country for many years, seeking ways to enrich their artistic practice by mating the aesthetics of Eastern and Western cultures. They express themselves through various materials and techniques, such as etching, silkscreen printing, photography, digital printing, sculpture and painting. The ways in which they convey their ideas reveal how notions of culture, identity, globalisation, pleasure and femininity are interwoven. This process seems like a long adventurous journey in a floating world, but these important experiences are the main drive behind this tour show, which unites East and West to create a cultural amalgam with a character of its own.

City: Tokyo
Venue: Makii Masaru Fine Arts
1-7-7 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0053
03-3865-2211
www.makiimasaru.com/
18th - 30th Sept., 2006

City: Seoul
Venue: Gallery Andante.
92 SoGyuk-Dong Jonglo-
02-735-3392
www.andante.or.kr
1st - 8th Oct., 2006

City: London
Venue: 47 gallery
47 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3PB
020-7637-4577
www.agecare.org.uk
27th Nov. – 2nd Dec., 2006

Artists

Yoko Saeki : photo
http://www.art-zone.jp/yoko
2001-2002 Camberwell College of Arts, PGDip / U.K.
1994-1998 Musashino art University / Japan

Annie Lin : water colour
2002 - University of East London, Prof Doc in Fine Art / U.K.
1997-2000 Tung Hai University / Taiwan

Shuxiang Jin Farrall : printmaking
2000-2002 Camberwell College of Arts, MA / U.K.

Tomoko Matsumoto : printmaking
http://www.loftwork.com/portfolio.aspx?cid=1318
2002 - University of East London, Prof Doc in Fine Art / U.K.
2001-2002 Camberwell College of Arts, MA / U.K.

Olympia Toptsidou : illustration & textile
2005 - Kyoto University of Arts / Japan
2003-2004 Central St. Martins College of Art & Design, MA / U.K.

Phoebe Junghee Shin : digital print & screen print
http://www.colorfuture.com
2005 - University of Southampton, PhD / U.K.
2002-2005 Camberwell College of Arts, MPhil / U.K.

Miki Inoue : printmaking
2000-2002 Camberwell College of Arts, MA / U.K.

Michael Parlamas : painting
2004 - University of East London, Prof Doc in Fine Art / U.K.
2002-2003 Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, MA / U.K.

"One of the particular influences on the way culture has developed over the last decade has been the willingness and desire of students to travel in order to study. British art colleges have been enriched by the influx of overseas students, bringing with them, their own cultural identities as well as openness to embrace new ideas.
The exchange of ideas between east and west, with their contrasting philosophies, has resulting in a fertile ground for hybrid practice. A number of the artists exhibiting in Floating Odyssey attended the MA Printmaking Programme at Camberwell College of Arts where I had had the pleasure to teach them and observe their ideas developing and how the experience of London impacted on their artistic vision. It is rewarding to see how these artists have further developed individually while maintaining the close links they formed as students, now as a supportive group in their professional life.
In the work, you can see the evidence of their travels, the way influences have been assimilated and the depth of feeling for their cultural roots. It is appropriate that the exhibition will tour, London, Seoul, Tokyo, reflecting the artists personal journeys. At a time when division and conflict seem to be a barrier to peace, there is an example set by these artists, that difference is not a threat, but a value that we all share and profit from".

Professor Paul Coldwell
Camberwell College of Arts-University of the Arts London