Every year, cherry blossom trees go through a spectacular bloom, the spread of which resembles a fast-moving wild fire burn. The blossoming typically begins in Okinawa, Japan in January, edging northwards and up into higher altitudes as the winter wanes away. The stunning white, pink and purple blooms fall off and fade away almost as fast as they crop up. The observance and appreciation of this annual phenomenon didn’t stay in Japan though, this staple of impending spring is now ingrained in the cultures of India, Canada, the United States, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Korea among others. Surprisingly, Brazil also has an enormous cherry blossom culture. Even more surprisingly, these Cherry blossoms are a result of having the largest population of Japanese outside Japan. Both governments signed a treaty permitting Japanese to migrate to Brazil in 1907, and it would be these first immigrants who brought with them the first cherry blossom seeds. As war and lack of opportunity in Japan led to more and more Japanese immigrants in Brazil, more of their cultural norms immigrated with them. Like so many stories, it’s not about where you go, but why you left and what you take with you.
ARTIST | Liu Dao 六岛 | |||
MEDIA | RGB LED display, Chinese papercut (Jian Zhi 剪紙), paper collage,sound sensor, 8-bit microcontroller, teakwood frame | |||
EDITION | Unique | |||
DATE | Made in island6, Shanghai 2015 | |||
SIZE | 103.5(W)×103.5(H)×5(D) cm |
To see more information:
http://www.island6.org/MakeMeStay.html