itsukushima
floating in air and water
spirit challenged
Itsukushima Shrine on the Island of Miyajima in the Inland sea of Japan. This is one of the most spiritual shrines in Japan. At low tide one can walk out to the giant Tori Gate that guides entry to the shrine. At high tide the shrine appears to float on the water and the giant Tori is surrounded by water. During the day thousands of pilgrams, tourists and other visitors arive via a short ferry ride from the mainland and wander the Shrine and many other religious and tourist attractions. Evening is the best time to appreciate the peace and tranquility of Itsukushima Shrine when almost all visitors have departed and local inhabitants have retired to their dwellings. This peacefullness is captured in a work of art by Takahiro Iwasaki commisioned by the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne Australia. The accurately scaled model is suspended from the ceiling to create an illusion of the real Shrine and Tori gate. Observors can walk around, crawl under and peer into the model. there are 14 interlocking parts to the model and in a semi lit room the work of art appears to be floating just like the real shrine at high tide.