Making Room for the Unexpected

Newsletter - 30 July 2026

Recently, I came across an unexpected discovery in my art practice.

While working on a commission, a raised, textured surface appeared by chance. It wasn’t something I had planned or intended to create, but I really liked what happened and found myself wanting to explore something similar in my next work.

I’m now working on new pieces for my upcoming exhibition, and I’m curious to see what happens this time.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to create the same kind of texture again, and I’m not going to force it. I think I’ll just let the process happen and see what comes out of it.

And speaking of the next exhibition, I’m very happy to share that I’ll be exhibiting again at Webb’s Wellington Gallery towards the end of this year.

The exhibition will begin on 17 November.

Sometimes, when I’m making art, something appears that I could never have planned or created intentionally.

And lately, I’ve been wondering if this feeling might not only belong to my art practice.

The past six months have been filled with many things outside of my art as well.

As part of the fundraising for my sons’ karate tournament in Japan, I created more than ten designs, including T-shirts, jackets, posters and banners, and also helped with the preparation and running of various events.

Managing all of this alongside my own art practice has been more challenging than I expected.

There have been things that genuinely excited me, as well as moments when I felt, “I don’t think I can take on anything more.”

There have also been times when I’ve felt torn between wanting to care for the people around me and wanting to take care of myself.

Through all of this, something has gradually changed in the way I approach new things.

In the past, when faced with something new, I often found myself asking, “Can I actually do this?”

But recently, I’ve started asking myself:

“Do I actually want to experience this?”

I’ve always been someone who, once I decide to do something, wants to give it everything I can.

I don’t like pushing myself too far, but I do want to do as much as I can while still feeling satisfied with what I’ve done.

On the other hand, when something doesn’t feel right to me, I try not to force myself to be involved.

So it’s not that taking on every challenge is the right choice for me. But when there is something inside me that says, “I want to try this,” I find that curiosity wins over other people’s reactions and my own uncertainty.

At a recent karate tournament here in New Zealand, I took part in a Parent & Child Kata with my son. The kata was quite challenging for me as a beginner, but I simply wanted to give it a try.

And unexpectedly, we won a gold medal.

Of course, I was very happy.

But looking back, the gold medal itself wasn’t the most important part for me.

At what may be our last tournament in New Zealand, I had the opportunity to try something together with my son, even during such a busy time.

That experience itself meant a lot to me.

And in that moment, I realised that when the experience itself is the purpose, I don’t actually feel that much anxiety.

When there is simply a feeling of “I want to try this” or “I want to experience this”, and having that experience is the goal, then whatever the outcome, I can still feel satisfied that I got to experience it.

I’ve been feeling this more and more throughout this year.

Perhaps the same can be said about the texture I mentioned earlier.

Art, above all, is free. Creating isn’t only about working towards some perfect, predetermined outcome.

Sometimes, something appears by chance, or an unexpected expression comes up, and I can work with it as I go.

In that way, the process of making art itself becomes a collaboration with something that has naturally appeared.

As I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, I’ll be moving my base to Japan at the end of January next year. My time in New Zealand is gradually becoming shorter.

Before moving my base to Japan next year, I’ll be travelling back to Japan in October with my children for their karate tournament, where I’ll also be taking part in a Parent & Child Kata.

I’m looking forward to seeing what experiences are waiting for me next, and for now, I’m enjoying creating art for the upcoming exhibition.

Thank you so much, as always, for taking the time to read my newsletter.

I’ll be sure to share more details with you as the exhibition gets closer.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Yae