for someone from elsewhere, a drifting immigrant for no specific reason

I’ve always felt both inspired and alienated by Tokyo as a city.

several years ago, while waiting I picked up wildflowers and weeds around.

seeing those weeds arranged into a bouquet, made me think:

Collecting weeds is one more way to measure time

Collecting weeds is a way to consider a space

Collecting weeds is a short story

I recognise you

In Tokyo, around 90% of land is under cement and urban plants are meticulously managed,

merging with built structures as another building block, grown to be a guiding obstruction and decoration.

there’s no unregulated space nor plants, even within parks. this creates a bone-deep feeling of sterile and confirmity.

as such, evidence of individual expression, spontaneouty and diversion stands out in contrast and is to be quietly celebrated.

(text based on “Tokyo Void. Possibilities in Absence by Marieluise Jonas and Heike Rahmann)

weeds are a symbol, evidence of the pure strength of a seed:

life, hope, resilience, humble rebellion.

they also create independent micro local ecosystems, spontaneous

tiny gardens, designed by the cracks and tiny gaps.

in empty voids and the land lots to be sold,

they grow as memories of a personal history and spirits of those who lived there before.

I’m collecting weeds to tell a short story about time and space.

to remember and celebrate the resilience and underrated *
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vika množina hashimoto