Just Keep Going - Polyphony. Gentle Activism for Collective Survival

This portfolio examines the possibility of my project ‘Just Keep Going’ series to nurture resilience for those experiencing uncanniness during periods of change and re-organization in the aftermath of extreme experiences. Experiences in an action-oriented non-verbal polyphony environment that prioritizes the uniqueness of a holistic self while accepting the existence of diverse individuals who are participating in collective survival could foster that resilience. My practice-led research aims to explore an expanded application of my Ikebana practice to my public Spatial Neural-Architectures while exploring a new way of understanding security, survival, and wellbeing. My research informs my art practice that includes the practices arising out of my life experience as a transnational voluntary evacuee to Australia from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. My portfolio shows the transformation of my artwork and my everyday life. I investigate how my art practice could offer a therapeutic experience as well as a new cultural framework by examining the methods of Open Dialogue, the Biophilia Hypothesis, Ikebana Philosophy, and Sand-play Therapy. These methods open up new possibilities for a socially engaged practice that addresses collective traumas in the midst/aftermath of global crisis and the social changes necessary for collective survival.