Naoko Mabon

Gaelic

Tha Naoko na neach-ealain ag obair air a ceann fhèin a tha stèidhichte san Òban agus a tha an sàs gu sònraichte ann an curaideachadh is furastachadh. Chaidh a breith is a togail ann am Fukuoka san t-Seapan, agus tha an obair aice a’ sealltainn gu sònraichte air cùisean àrainneachd is sòisealta agus tha i a’ cleachdadh ealain gus ceanglaichean a chruthachadh agus ceartas, eugsamhlachd is seasmhachd a chur air adhart. Tha obair churaideach Naoko stèidhichte air cùram agus gnìomhadh, ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas gu tric gus siostaman a bhios a’ gabhail brath a thoirt far a chèile. Bho thog i an imrich chun an Òbain ann an 2019, tha Naoko air a bhith a’ feuchainn ri dhol an sàs ann an cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig, a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun tèid a’ Ghàidhlig a chur air thoiseach sna pròiseactan cruthachail aice, leithid Tiree’s Sustainable Future agus Woodland // Coille.

“Bidh mi a’ dèanamh ceangal ri cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig oir, ged ’s ann às an t-Seapan a tha mi, tha e an urra rium an “sruth a’ giùlan” (mar a thug Seumas MacEanraig turas air traidisean) a tha seo de dhìleab cultarail a chaidh a chur na thost a thoirt do na ginealaichean ri teachd le bhith ag obair leotha agus gan ùrachadh a rèir suidheachadh an là an-diugh cuideachd mar neach a tha a’ fuireach anns an Òban agus ann an Alba.” – Naoko Mabon

Image: Oban Gaelic Choir's outdoor concert, at George Street Square in Oban, 2021. As part of On Tidal Zones Residency hosted by ATLAS Arts and CLIMAVORE. Credit Naoko Mabon

Oban Gaelic Choir's Outdoor Concert, At George Street Square In Oban, 2021. As Part Of On Tidal Zones Residency Hosted By ATLAS Arts And CLIMAVORE. Credit Naoko Mabon

English

Naoko is a freelance art practitioner based in Oban who specialises in curation and facilitation. Born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan, Naoko’s work strongly focuses on environmental and societal issues and uses art to foster relationships and promote justice, diversity, and sustainability. Naoko’s curatorial practice is rooted in care and activism, often working collaboratively to dismantle exploitative systems. Since moving to Oban in 2019, Naoko has actively sought to engage with Gaelic language and culture, ensuring Gaelic is prioritised in her creative projects, such as Tiree’s Sustainable Future and Woodland // Coille.

“I engage with Gaelic language and culture because, although I am from Japan, passing this once silenced “carrying stream” of cultural heritage (as Hamish Henderson once metaphorised tradition) on to upcoming generations by actively engaging with them and renewing them in today's context is now my responsibility too as someone who calls Oban and Scotland a home.” - Naoko Mabon

Image: Arts project [ ] of the Woodland [ ] na Coille, co-curated with Mika Schröder. Credit Naoko Mabon

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