About

In 2013, Scottish artist Su Grierson was invited to participate in the first Spirit of North event in Japan, which was organised by artist Yoshiko Maruyama in response to the Fukushima disaster of 2011. 

Yoshiko’s project has continued to connect a global network of ‘northern’ artists across the world, and to explore resonances between them. Confluence of North, developed in Scotland and led by Su Grierson and Gillian McFarland, continues this artistic connection, and has created an exchange between the four participating Scottish artists and the four artists from Spirit of North in Japan.

Confluence of North was originally intended as an exchange that would have brought Japanese artists to Scotland in 2020. However, the unexpected situation caused by Covid-19 sparked a new process and focus for the project – what it means, how it will develop, and what the outcomes will be.

  • We are now prioritising process as a more integral part of the project. 
  • We are exploring the ways in which digital networking can approximate face-to-face networking, and how it may offer additional opportunities for our project. 
  • We are thinking ecologically and seeing the benefits of working in this way, including for the four Scottish artists, who are based around Scotland.
  • We are thinking more carefully about the means of wider audience engagement. 

More about Spirit of North can be found here: http://spirit-of-north.net

Confluence of North wish to thank:

Rhona Taylor Press & Publicity
Creative Mongrel Photography
Yuno Dinnie Translation

Confluence of North are very grateful to our funders.

We’d love to keep you updated on our project – click here to stay in touch