Setsuko Chiba (Japan)


Golden Embrace

The International Roots Project resonates powerfully, spanning two realms, both earth and heaven. There are spiritual, scientific, philosophical or literary elements that evoke deep self reflection. 

I’ve lived in many places, connecting with, and separating from, many people since childhood. This way of living like the wind has been integral to my development as a poet and artist. 

Golden Embrace is a visual poem inspired by the plants and trees thriving in Fukushima after the unprecedented nuclear accident. I see resilience in these plants, the root of life transcending all species. With their wing-like branches reaching to the sky, these trees echoed a hymn to life as they powerfully took root in soil that shattered into ten thousand pieces by the tragic sins of extravagant human desire. Seeing these trees heals of the innermost grief of separation and the torn hearts of my life. They are also a beautiful sight—a reminder of a philosophical, humane, and ecological planet that absolutely affirms and navigates a way for life, love, and peace transcending racial and national differences. 

Golden Embrace is a collage. I employ this technique to integrate various visual elements and create multiple layers, overlapping and repeating like a Mille Feuille pastry.


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Julie Comnick (US)