In 2019, Lauren Hotson undertook an influential art residency at Shiro Oni Studio in Onishi, Japan, a tranquil location nestled in the mountainous Gunma Prefecture. The experience was a profound immersion into Japanese culture and community, where the quiet rhythm of the village provided fertile ground for introspection and new ideas. Her work during this time explored the interplay between nature and subtle human intervention, culminating in a humbling sense of acceptance from the supportive local community.