Butler Gallery Garden Studio Residency - Shiro MASUYAMA

As a Japanese artist living and working in Belfast, the racial tensions recently seen through mass anti-immigration riots have led me to question the relationship between identity and a country’s political rhetoric. The demographics of Northern Ireland are changing at an exponential pace. 13.4% of people who live here now were not born here, and the number of people identifying as non-white on the 2021 census has doubled from the 2011 census: from 1.75% to circa 3.5%. The rate of change for a post-conflict society is striking, and Northern Ireland is host to racism and xenophobia, in addition to its traditional sectarian troubles.

Japan has its own colonial past, having been colonised across Asia, and as a result, I have experienced both ends of the spectrum—being perceived negatively in some countries because of my country’s history. This dynamic, similar to Ireland and Northern Ireland’s own, at times contentious, relationship with England, adds another layer of interest to my exploration of identity. Are we still culpable for our ancestors’ actions? Does colonialism play a role in today’s anti-immigration rhetoric and the rise of the far right?

In Northern Ireland, a binary division of Catholic/Protestant and Green/Orange is often imposed. A previous project of mine, Borderline, explored these two opposing cultures. Moving forward, it is crucial to acknowledge that Northern Ireland’s population can no longer be defined solely by these binaries, as it now encompasses many minority and marginalised communities. This shift will form a key part of my research.

I will use the Borderline project to bring the art caravan into the outdoor area of Butler Gallery. I hope to foster open discussions with people and local communities in Kilkenny, where I have not yet presented the project. This exchange offers a unique opportunity to explore cultural shifts in society, allowing both the community in Kilkenny and me to engage in meaningful conversations about migration, identity, and belonging.

Artist Bio

I’m originally from Japan and previously studied architecture to the master’s level before becoming an artist. This was an unusual career trajectory in Japan and has influenced my art practice both in terms of forming my identity as an artist and also in how place plays a role in my work. The majority of my projects have been site-specific, as I have explored the connections between place and identity. Learning about other places and other people is a collaborative activity, and my work is often described as socially engaged: both because it references the particulars of the place and also because I invite the contribution of others into my work. I believe interaction with people often brings unexpected results. It's one of the most important processes and components in completing an artwork.
My artistic practice has mainly developed through participating in a diverse range of artist residencies worldwide, including: Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany (2023); Khoj Studios, New Delhi, India (2023); Ruang MES 56, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2018); National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea (2008); Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany (2004-2005); International Studio and Curatorial Programme, New York, USA (2002-2003).
Following international residencies at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, in 2006 and Flax Art Studios in 2009, I moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where I have been based ever since. Having previously lived in Japan and Germany, living in Belfast has had a profound effect on both my concept of my identity and on my art practice. Living in North Belfast, where sectarian tensions are still high and where residents are traditionally local and white, has allowed me to explore, both personally and artistically, how political rhetoric influences everyday life and concepts of identity and how we see ourselves.
My work ranges from performances to sculpture, installations, photography, and video.