Wednesday 6 May 2015

Cherry Blossom

Kitao Shigemasa (1739–1820) 
Third Lunar Month, Blossom Viewing at Asuka Hill. 
Colour woodblock print.
Spring has sprung!

Nothing heralds the arrival of spring more beautifully than the Cherry Blossom.

Twisted branches, quiet and dormant  all winter long, burst into life with swathes of delicate blooms. 

For me the Cherry Blossom is a symbol of optimism and promise. It is a sight that never fails to lift my spirits.  

Nowhere is the Cherry Blossom more celebrated than in Japan where the tradition of hanami (flower viewing) is an ancient tradition. Those who gaze upon the blossoms are reminded that life is beautiful and fleeting.

The blooms are delightful but delicate, soon to be swept away upon the breeze.


I wished to capture the ephemeral beauty of the Cherry Blossom.

This new design is my take on contemporary chinoiserie. Depicted is an imagined Floating World, an eternal spring.

Perched upon the branches are yellow white eye birds and little butterflies dance away into the sky.

Nothing is so beautiful as spring!