Remembrance
追忆
Cherry blossoms thrive for about a week or even shorter if conditions are unfavorable. At their peak, the blooms are vibrant and joyous. Once their time is up, the falling pink petals drift through the air onto the ground or into nearby streams where they look like brushstrokes as they swirl in the currents. They remind me of my mum, who loved flowers.
She died over twenty years ago when I was twenty-two. She had been my confidante and moral compass. For the longest time, I suppressed my memories of her to avoid the overwhelming sadness of her loss. While grief may ebb, memories fade too. By sidestepping my sorrow, the palpable sense of her presence seemed to fade as well.
In Japan, cherry blossom is the national flower. It is symbolic of the concept of “mono no awa-re” (物の哀れ), which speaks to the impermanence of life, and to the sadness and longing for things that have passed. However, it also recognizes that this very transient nature of life is what heightens our appreciation of its beauty and makes us treasure our encounters more deeply. Lives might have been brief, but they leave indelible marks on our consciousness. Photographing cherry blossoms has enabled me to re-embrace my love for my mother and to celebrate her life.
I dedicate ‘Remembrance’ to the memory of my mother, whose faith in me gave me the strength to strive for the impossible.
