“Forest Perception – if a tree talks in the forest does anyone listen?” By Akiko Yamashita turns downtown Los Angeles into a jungle
If you ever have the pleasure of meeting LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light artist, Akiko Yamashita, the first thing you are likely to notice is her demure nature and sweet sensibility. She is the kind of artist, and, in fact, the kind of person who is able to make you feel good simply by being around her.
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The same can be said for her exhibited artwork entitled Forest Perception – if a tree talks in a forest, does anyone listen? So, when we curated our ensemble of featured artists for LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light, it only made sense that Yamashita was one of the artists we sought to work with.
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This is not just because of who Yamashita is as a person. Yamashita is a formidable artist – one who is so well versed in the digital-creative sphere that her carefully crafted and finely edited work feels almost as real as life itself.
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On the evening that LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light went live, many of those that saw Yamashita’s Forest Perception – if a tree talks in the forest, does anyone listen? decided to roll out a blanket, sit down, and enjoy ‘being in nature’. Why? Because her work provided an almost-real-life-oasis right in the middle of the bright lights and siren sounds of downtown Los Angeles.
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Forest Perception – if a tree talks in the forest, does anyone listen? refers back to Yamashita’s Japanese heritage and, most notably, to her grandfather. Her work takes inspiration from his philosophy and legacy, and can be seen as an ode to the wisdom of a man who sought a green, peaceful future after seeing the burned and empty fields after World War II.
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According to Yamashita, he devoted his life to creating forests. He emphasized the importance of root protection, plant diversification, as well as native preservation. This influence is evident in the work Yamashita shared with the LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light audience, which offered two views of a lush forest: one from above the forest canopy, and one from below the roots in the forest floor.
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Beyond this familial tribute, Yamashita’s work is founded on the implications of recent studies which discovered that trees can communicate through their roots and share both food and water with each other (even beyond their own plant species). From this understanding, it is easy to see how Yamashita’s work spotlights the fact that biodiversity plays a key role in creating sustainable, healthy forests (as well as sustainable, healthy communities).
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If you didn’t make it to LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light you can watch it through the livestream.
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More about the artist
Akiko Yamashita is best known for projection mapping and light installations and is currently based in Los Angeles. Her artworks explore visual illusions created with 3D animation inspired by patterns and movements in nature. She seeks the full spectrum of prism colors and her works often transform physical objects, or spaces, into another dimension with animated lights.
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Yamashita enjoys working with music, fashion and architecture providing solutions to light up the environment. Her light hallway “Portal” won A’Design Silver Awards. Interactive flower projection “Hana Fubuki” was exhibited in the Main Gallery at Artechouse DC as a part of In Peaks Bloom. She was featured in Apple keynote’s films as one of the new generation’s makers.