1300 Degrees of Translucence1300 Degrees of Translucence

In residencies, such as the Creative Residency Arita, artists or designers immerse themselves in a local context to develop new work. Such programmes have become an important part of the cultural offerings of governments, institutions and commercial parties. They are widely seen as valuable models for exchange and collaboration, yet they are also built on certain assumptions. Who benefits from these residencies? Who contributes, and what constitutes an exchange? Finally, how can we ensure that residencies are fair, sustainable and mutually beneficial?

For the first time in the CRA’s 10-year history, the focus is on the Japanese craftspeople who are essential to the programme. It features work by Saga-based kilns – traditional porcelain workshops – including Fujimaki Seitou, Riso Kiln, Zuiho Kiln, Bunzan Seitou, Koransha and Kinsho-do. This is presented alongside the works of former residents Octave Rimbert-Rivière and Mirthe Klück, who are based in the Netherlands. Together, their practices reflect what genuine exchange can look like.

The title, 1300 Degrees of Translucence, refers to the temperature at which porcelain is fired and the clay becomes translucent – a transformation that acts as a metaphor for the residency itself, as well as the conditions that allow genuine change to occur and something entirely new to emerge.

1300 Degrees of Translucence was developed in collaboration with Saga Prefecture and Studio The Future. It follows on from the wider cultural programme curated by the Nieuwe Instituut for the Dutch Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.

You can visit the Re-Centre during the museum’s opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, and during the evening opening on Thursdays until 21:00.

Creative Residency Arita (CRA) is an international artist-in-residence programme organised by Arita Town and Saga Prefecture. With ceramic production as the focal point, the programme offers support for creators from various backgrounds in order to engage in creative activities whilst being presented with the opportunity to interact with local residents and paired with highly skilled potters and craftspeople to collaborate artistically. CRA has been directed by Amsterdam-based Studio The Future since 2024 and is supported by Creative Industries Fund NL and the Mondriaan Fund.

From April to October 2025, the World Expo took place in Osaka, Japan, bringing together more than 160 countries and organisations for cultural exchange and cooperation. Nieuwe Instituut was appointed as curator of the cultural programme for the Dutch pavilion, themed Activating Common Ground. Over six months, the interdisciplinary programme took place in the Dutch Pavilion and elsewhere in Japan, centered around collaboration and exchange between Japanese and Dutch makers — and built on the idea that culture and identity are not fixed, but emerge from interaction, curiosity, and dialogue.