Tagged: Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Sakura Illumination, light performance art mesmerizes Vancouver crowd
ARON ZHU video
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Hundreds of people blanketed the hill by Sunset Beach last week to watch the Sakura Illumination. They held up cameras, smartphones and small children.
Lanterns hung from the trees and glowed through the pink cherry blossoms as the orange skies behind faded. Chatter and laughter grew as the music started.
LED and patterned video lights zigzagged off the trees and the bodies of two performers.
Light artist Stuart Ward was inspired by the festival scenes he saw in Japan, where people gathered around to watch cherry blossoms light up.
“It’s light-based art,” Ward said. “The modern world is so technology-driven. This art engages people with the technology.”
He said the lanterns changed colour based on the illumination being played. Everything was synchronized and connected, including the people.
A toddler in a green jacket bobbed at the edge of the circle, creeping closer and closer. He and his sibling chased the light for a bit before they were pulled back.