Guests from around the world

Malcolm Fairley　

Malcolm Fairley is a London-based art dealer.

While working at Sotheby's auction house in London, he had the opportunity to study Meiji art extensively and later founded his own gallery specialising in Meiji art.

Our collaboration began when he commissioned me to restore a work of art. Then, in 2004, he suggested that I make at least ten works of art for my first solo exhibition. At that time, I was still undecided whether I should specialise in making or restoring artworks, and I eventually decided to make the artworks I wanted. As I was not in a good financial position at the time, Malcolm offered me a 50% advance on the works once they were finished. This would have been unthinkable in Japan. I was thrilled by this environment, where young artists are encouraged in such a way, and by the way this gallery treats artists, and I set to work with full commitment. All my nine works of art exhibited were sold in the end.