All things come to an end.

I was saying to a friend a while ago, "It must be so sad to be the person to clean up all the fallen cherry blossom petals after". I guess, in the moment I was reveling in the beauty of the cherry blossoms in full bloom, I had found it incredibly sad to think that it would all come to an end.

But there is a sort of elegance in it too. In things that are gone, things that are barely able to hang on, and things that remain.

I actually walked past two people one morning while they were sweeping up the petals on the staircase beside the park. They had set about it in a very routinely manner, and executed their work with a kind of vigour that, rather than emitting the kind of gloom I had imagined before, exuded a kind of vitality and matter-of-factness.

I suppose they were telling me that, as a matter of fact, life does goes on.

Natsumi Hayashi's "Today's Levitation" exhibition.

Yesterday, I visited Spiral Garden at Omotesando to see Natsumi Hayashi's "Today's Levitation" exhibition. Supported by the lingerie brand une nana cool, the exhibition was only available for one week, and I was very fortunately told about it by my friend Joanne (who is, incidentally, living outside of the country).

I was very excited upon hearing about the exhibition. I first saw pictures from Natsumi Hayashi's yowayowa camera woman diary last year, when it appeared in a newspaper in Hong Kong (where I was living at the time). My uncle did a search online, and that's how I came across more pictures from the "Today's Levitation" series. Being someone who also likes to take jumping pictures everywhere I go, all around the world, naturally I loved the concept.

Seeing the levitation pictures on such a large scale was a fun and enjoyable experience. It was my first time at Spiral, but I found the building itself to provide a very soothing atmosphere, and I took my time in looking at the large prints. Natsumi Hayashi's photos give such a clean and fresh feeling of ordinary life and of nature. The exhibition was definitely an excellent start to the day!

There was a small shop set up at the entrance of the Spiral building that sold Natsumi Hayashi's first photo book, postcards, some cute "Today's Levitation" themed applique, and products from une nana cool. The shop attendants were very sweet, making small talk with me and complimenting me on my skirt (it had little birds printed on it).

I bought a few postcards to send as souvenirs, and they kindly gave me a limited edition shopping bag and slipped the postcards inside it. It was a little ridiculous, seeing as the huge bag was completely flat (after all, it was only holding five tiny pieces of card stock), but I transferred some other things from my handbag into it, and it was fun swinging it along the street as I went about for the rest of my day.

A last glimpse of the cherry blossom season at Kudanshita.

The cherry blossoms are already disappearing with each passing day. It's been windy this week, but I think the cherry blossoms really tried to hang in there for a little longer. Although it's gotten chilly again today, the previous two days were quite warm, and I took advantage of this eye in the storm as much as I could to spend more time outside.

On Thursday night, my lovely friend Lisa brought me to Kudanshita to view some more yozakura before they disappeared for the year. We got there shortly after 6'o'clock in the evening; the cherry blossoms were scheduled to light up at six-thirty. Before the sky got too dark, I snapped a quick photo just outside the station. The flowers were so pretty and abundant, hovering over the water like snow.

We walked on the street overlooking the water near Kitanomaru Koen, and it seemed that everyone around us was also there to catch a view of the blossoms at night.

Looking up at the canopy of pink blossoms, I had an overwhelming sense of the otherworldly. It's as if this short-lived season is a temporary bridge transcending between our reality and something else out there. I felt as if I could have stayed in that intermediary state forever.

There was a one-way traffic of people traveling under the cherry blossom trees, and when we got near the end, there was a spot close to the boat rentals that seemed to be the most popular place for taking pictures. I wasn't really sure why, but in any case, I felt compelled to also take a picture here--albeit a not very good picture (oh, the disadvantages of being short). Then I decided the crowd of people taking photos made an even more interesting picture.

It was a very relaxing evening. I'm so glad I was able to catch one last glimpse of this metaphysical beauty before it floated away to someplace else, far away. Please come back again next year.

Under35 Opening Party.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending the Under35 opening party hosted by BankART1929 in Yokohama. Under35 is a project series for young artists under 35 years of age, and produced in collaboration with various galleries. The opening party took place at BankART Studio NYK and exhibitions covered all three floors of the building.

I was graciously invited on the day of, and I really had no idea what to expect when I went. But as it turns out, I had such a lovely, lovely time, and met so many amazing artists both local and from abroad. It is so inspiring to be a part of such an uplifting and powerful gathering of individuals who are all passionate about art and the creative process.

I am very grateful for having been given the opportunity to attend such an event. In addition to seeing a lot of stimulating artwork and performances, I was able to converse with many different people, both young and more mature. Art really does connect people and provide a base for people to identify with one another.

And with some wine and delicious Korean food (made by the artists themselves!) on the first floor, shirasu and nihonshu on the third floor, and great company throughout the night, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thank you, fellow art lovers! It was the best first night in Yokohama.

Cherry blossom season.

This week, I started my life in Japan. I'm currently staying in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and it is beautiful here. Cherry blossom season is apparently early this year, but this means that there were full blooms welcoming me upon my arrival. It is my first time being in Japan during the month of March, and I am so glad to finally be able to witness the arrival of spring here! It's very different from any of the other places I've spent spring in; there is a certain atmosphere to it, like you can feel the essence of spring in the trees, the people, the rhythm of life.

I experienced my first hanami (cherry blossom viewing) yesterday at Inokashira Koen in Kichijoji, Tokyo. There were so many people! It was a time where eating, drinking, and the cherry blossoms overhead were the only things that mattered and nothing else. I had so much fun.

Outside my door, Motomachi Koen is also abundant with cherry blossoms in full bloom. I just can't stop myself from going outside once every few hours and standing there, admiring them.

Cherry blossoms are beautiful and short-lived. The experience of standing under them is inexplicable and irreplicable; nonetheless, I captured a few pictures of them both during the daytime and at night. I can't decide which I like better: cherry blossoms under a bright, blue sky, or yozakura, cherry blossoms at night.