‘Zoltak Becomes Love’ is a collaborative narration based on the process of translation. The artists Azusa Sakata, Satoko Kiuchi, and Karen Breneman came together in an effort to transform their Japanese-English language barrier in to a point of departure, where their linguistic differences could become fertile ground for the generation and exchange of ideas.

The objective was to create a linear narrative with corresponding illustrations using spontaneous conversational translation as the primary vehicle for story building. While the visual animation is the apparent body of the work, the spontaneous creation of narrative in the cross-translation between Japanese and English was the core of the project.

In the process, both languages became subordinate to the new level of communication that arose from drawing, diagrams, gesture, improvisation, movement, and sound. The rules and parameters of translation established themselves intuitively along a scaffolding of trust and humour. The story unfolded within this temporary structure to find its expression nestled comfortably in both Japanese and English.