‘See with new eyes’ as latest exhibition ‘Sanctuary’ brings the art of Asia to Touchstones Rochdale

Artist Rosa Nguyen specialises in glass and ceramics and her work features in national and international public collections

An exhibition inspired by Japanese gardens and the Japanese art of flower arranging opens at Touchstones Rochdale on Friday 26 September as part of a major festival of Asian art, Asia Triennial Manchester 2014.

Artist Rosa Nguyen specialises in glass and ceramics and her work features in national and international public collections. Her contemplative large-scale installations are influenced by direct interaction with living things, through pruning and topiary, and the stylized conventions of ‘ikebana’, the Japanese discipline of flower arranging.

‘Sanctuary’ is Rosa Nguyen’s latest installation. Set in groups, hand-made ceramic and glass vessels of different sizes and textures interconnect with living and dried plants to form a spiritual connection with the beauty of nature.

A mixture of natural and artificial light is used to create a dream-like quality based on the principal of ‘mitate’, meaning to ‘see with new eyes’. An element of Japanese culture, mitate encourages the viewer to look at familiar objects in a new and different way in order to renew their meaning and experience.

Renowned international artist Rosa Nguyen has been commissioned by Link4Life’s Arts and Heritage Service to create this new large-scale work as part of Asia Triennial Manchester 2014. A celebration of visual art and culture from the Asia diaspora, this major initiative led by the Manchester School of Art is the only festival of its kind outside the Asia Pacific region. It returns to Manchester for the third time at the end of September and runs until the end of November. More information can be found at www.asiatriennialmanchester.com.

Link4Life’s Art Gallery Officer, Yvonne Hardman, curator of the exhibition, said: “Sanctuary creates a beautiful and meditative landscape within the gallery’s largest exhibition space linked to the festival theme of conflict and compassion. We’re thrilled to be an Asia Triennial Manchester 2014 partner and bring Rosa’s work to the borough. To be part of such a prestigious festival continues to build the reputation that Touchstones Rochdale is developing for bringing exciting new and contemporary art to the region.”

An opportunity to meet the artist and to explore the ideas behind the exhibition is also available with a special workshop to be held at Touchstones Rochdale on Saturday 27 September. Suitable for ages 16 and over it is a chance to create a personal landscape inspired by the art of ikebana. Places are free and must be booked in advance by ringing 01706 924492.

Touchstones Rochdale is located in Rochdale town centre five minutes from the bus and metro stations by foot. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, admission is free and facilities include a café and shop. Details of current exhibitions and events are available online at http://www.link4life.org/whats-on/touchstones-rochdale