Madame, old photo, collage & digital |
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Something to maybe amaze you?
When I see something so special that I need to share, I share.
Ando Tadao’s Hill of Buddha
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
Normally a cemetery wouldn’t be something I'd share,
but the Makomanai Cemetery
is an awe-inspiring place.
Located in the
outskirts of Sapporo, a large 1500 ton
stone Buddha occupies the verdant
landscape,
it has sat alone there for 15 years.
The cemetery wanted to do something to increase
visitor’s appreciations for the Buddha,
so they enlisted architect Tadao Ando,
who had a grand, bold idea: hide the statue.
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
“Our idea was to cover the Buddha ...
below the head with a hill of lavender plants,” said Ando.
Indeed, as you approach “Hill of Buddha”
the subject
is largely concealed by a hill planted with 150,000
lavenders.
Only the top of the statue’s head pokes out from the rotunda,
creating a visual connection between the lavender plants
and the
ringlets of hair on the Buddha statue’s head.
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
Upon entering, visitors are forced to turn left
or right
and walk around a rectangular lake of water before
entering
the 131-ft (40-meter) long approach tunnel.
The journey is a constant
reminder of the weather,
the breeze, the light, works in
tandem to heighten
anticipation of the statue, which is only visible
once you reach the end of the tunnel.
Any time of the year, visitors will have a different experience.
The
150,000 lavenders “turn fresh green in spring,
pale purple in summer, silky white with snow in winter.”
It really is a miraculous work of
environmental art.
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
The Makomanai Cemetery is a little difficult to get to,
but well worth
the effort.
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
By car it’s about a 30-min drive from central
Sapporo.
Also accessible by subway from Sapporo Station to
Makomanai Station and then board the #2 or #3 bus.
photo by Hiroo Namiki |
It's on my bucket list.
A smile for Tuesday ...
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