Standing on the Past by Aki Morishima of Los Angeles, CA
One year ago this month, our brothers and sisters and children in Japan saw truly devastating
earthquakes. Aki Morishima had an opportunity to connect with people there
and to experience the collective resilience of the human heart.
Not everyone celebrates Easter, but as human beings in this cycle of life,
we all understand letting go, looking ahead and beginning again.
Aki captured this essence quite beautifully in her artwork of felt.
The piece was made especially for a charity auction to benefit Japan.
“After the massive earthquake hit Japan a year ago, I had a chance to talk to people suffering in the area of the disaster. Despite their loss of family and friends, they tried to stay positive to live. I was moved by them holding each others’ hands and cooperating to rebuild their future. I made this piece thinking of people in Japan.“
The piece stands 9″ tall by 5″ at the base and 9″ at its widest point.
The tree itself is 100% wool, without armature.
The flower petals are cut commercial felt, the stamens are needle felted. There is no glue used in the piece, it is 100% needle felted.
It took Aki 4 days to make.
Aki shared that this was the first time she made something so large and so complicated, she had to plan well in advance.
“I have learned that if you prepare well and spend more time the piece might gather more of my feelings and emotions to convey.”
From our vantage point, the emotions in this piece are palpable, and Aki’s insight is profoundly true.
We hope you will offer her some feedback on this lovely work below — how does it make you feel?
About livingfelt
What a wonderful piece – to me it evokes love, joy and looking to the future. Thank you so much for sharing this with us! It brightened my day.
Breathtakingly beautiful!!!! Sooo lifelike. What an awesome job you did on it!!!