xenovision - after 25 years creating in Japan, now based in Prague. xenovision is the artistic fusion of multidisciplinary artist/designer Christopher M. Gaston with dramatherapist and forest school practitioner Lucia Gaston.
Christopher (USA) holds a BFA (Fine Arts - Painting & Sculpture) from the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD). After graduating from CCAD in 1990, Christopher was invited to Japan to assist ceramic artist Eiichi Morita in the ceramics city of Kasama. In 1992, at the Mino International Ceramics Triennale, Christopher received the prestigious 'Special Judges' award (Ceramic Arts) from Yoshiaki Inui, professor emeritus at Kyoto University, a leading researcher in the field of contemporary ceramics in Japan. The following year Christopher was granted his Artist Visa from Japan's Ministry of Justice, enabling him the freedom to explore, expand, and create his various creative adventures for 25 years as a professional artist living in Japan. Christopher has exhibited his art in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the galleries of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kagoshima, Kasama, and Mashiko.
Christopher's main focus has been pushing boundaries of ceramic art as a foreigner in Japan along with creating large illuminated sculptures using metal, clay, glass together incorporating LED, neon lights, fire, water, and video projection. One of Christopher's major projects includes the design, construction, and creation of an illuminated wall titled - Between Mars and Jupiter. The mural was created from laser-cut stainless steel laminated to painted enameled, sandblasted plate glass. The 3 wall mural is illuminated by a backlit energy-efficient LED lighting system with a micro-controller. Christopher was commissioned by the Saint-Gobain corporation for the lobby space of their newly constructed Japan main office building located in Koji-machi, Tokyo.
Christopher is also the seed creator of the magazine zavtone based in Tokyo. Name branding the magazine along with designing zavtone's logo, he wore many hats for zavtone working his creative magic as the magazine's content creator, graphic artist, layout designer, online editor, and photographer that utilized both still film and digital video for print.
Lucia (CZE) has explored different forms of artistic expression throughout her life. She trained as a Dramatherapist (MA) with a special interest in Ecopsychology and Environmental Arts. Lucia has traveled extensively to over 30 countries, immersing herself in the nature and culture of places she visited and drawing onto these experiences in her art. She has also been working creatively and therapeutically with children and adults including those with mental health issues and physical and learning disabilities.
Ceramics by Lucia - (see galleries).
Lucia and Christopher Gaston