The Love of Life by three Brisbane artists Mabina Alaka, Ken Kikkawa & Hiroaki Eba, shows their modern take on traditional Japanese artforms, inspired by QAGOMA’s exhibition just over the other side of the Brisbane River, ’Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles’.

The artists’ floral, clay and fabric creations blend their Japanese heritage and traditional techniques with Australian flora and fauna.

Mabina Alaka’s work uses Tsumamizaiku, a traditional Japanese craft she learnt while living in Japan, using small squared pieces of cloth that are pinched and folded with tweezers rather than using needle and thread.

Now calling Brisbane her home, Alaka still sources materials such as vintage Chirimen Kimono fabrics, Japanese cotton and traditional washi Japanese paper for her creations.

In The Love of Life exhibition, Alaka said she combined the purity and beauty of her heritage with her Australian experiences and influences to create a “little world inside of each tree”.

“So this technique is called Tsumamizaiku – this has more than 200 years of history,” Alaka said.

“All the beautiful maiko and geisha’s ornaments were made by artisans in Japan, and now in our generation they’ve become more popular to normal people. There’s a lot of artists who create their own way.

“I lived in Japan but now I live in Australia, so I still use Japanese techniques and use some Japanese vintage cotton fabrics, but I try to introduce little bits of Australia sometimes, that suits our daily life. So I mainly make earrings and brooches that people can easily wear.”

The designs use traditional Japanese methods and materials. (Image: Supplied).

One exquisite origami Alaka created for the show has 64 papers combined into one ball, surrounded by butterflies made from Japanese washi paper.

“It was a good opportunity for us, actually it was a very challenging job with limited time, I didn’t know if we could make it or not but I tried my best and it’s the best result I ever imagined,” she said.

Ken Kikkawa’s works in The Love of Life reflect his skills as a Brisbane based ceramic artist originally from Tokyo. His life and travels between these two cultures have fostered his ability to create ceramic art works that achieve a unique balance between Australia’s natural beauty and the aesthetic traditions of Japan.

He has created a “Wish Tree” inspired by the Japanese star festival ‘Tanabata’, and an “Octopus Tree” inspired by Japanese animation with each octopus representing a different emotion of Japanese people as they recover from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country.

He’s also created a “Green Dragon Tree”, an ode to the Japanese god which protects the community from natural disasters.

“Traditionally Japanese people believe in god that exists in nature, so in natural items, like mountains, trees, and the skies and winds – we see god,” Kikkawa said.

“Now 11 years after the tsunami as the life cycle moves through, the octopus is also able to show love and happiness.”

And Hiroaki Eba has brought his 44 years of experience in Tokyo, Kyoto, Mito and Brisbane to the exhibition with floral designs and art featuring natural organic elements.

In this installation, Eba has constructed three trees from organic materials – “Orchid Tree” featuring Phalaenopsis Orchid and Sphagnum Moss, “Australian Natives and Friends” featuring Banksia, Gum Nuts and Earthenware ceramics and “Singing in the Rain” featuring beads and playful clay rainforest frogs.

The Love of Life is a free exhibition on Podium Level 1 at the Brisbane Quarter open from 7am to 8pm every day until August 31.