SPRINGUMBRELLAS

 Wood / Umbrellas / Paper / Ash / Canon Lasor Print

'Spring Umbrella' is the last installation of 4 shown by Ron Rowe.
 The saesons in Japan are opposite to Australia, and they were shown during 
each season over a twelve month period.

Summer Fan June14th,1995
Autumn Gingko September 6th,1995
Winter Fuji January 17th,1996
Spring Umbrella April 26th, 1996


This installation uses the tatami mat and the tea ceremony fire pit 
along with green tea, the essential part of the traditional tea ceremony.
Blossom is drawn on the surface of the umbrellas with green tea to link the room space 
and the outdoor celebration of blossom as shown on the computer generated frieze around the space.
The tatami mat incorporates important cultural paper cranes that are so familiar and 
crucial to Japanese remembrance and peace. They are made from 
Japanese designed paper that reflects the four seasons.
The umbrellas are grouped together to form a cluster of blossom and are 
also ready to protect the user from surprise rain showers during spring. 
The four umbrellas on the wall placed in the shape of an open fan 
also indicate an element for each season of the year.
The old umbrella stands alone in the centre of the room as 
a memorial to the changes in Japanese traditions and the focus is on 
the disappearance of the paper umbrella.

RON ROWE ______________________________________________1996