Kawasumi

Digital art

2023

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The Kawasumi is an imagined organic time telling consumer product from the future.

The multi functional base acts as housing for the bonsai tree, an operating system for the self sustained weather system, and as an entertainment hub.

The bonsai tree has been genetically modified to have a hyper-accelerated life cycle. In relation to the time of day/weather, the plant blooms, grows, and sheds foliage, as well as reacts to unique weather systems created by the device. Six unique variations have been depicted to show what the product is able to conjure organically in real time.

This work was inspired by the traditional Japanese almanac, where the year is divided into 4 major seasons, with 24 solar terms, and 72 micro seasons. The artist has reimagined this in their own way by creating a futuristic product that tells time organically through natural processes and  unique weather phenomena. Through the sophistication and complexity of the Kawasumi product, one can assume that the creators are technologically advanced, but are rooted in traditional practices and beliefs.
 

(The symbols and words depicted are a fictional language created by the artist)