Edible chrysanthemums, which are garnished with sashimi, are originally intended to kill raw fish by detoxifying chrysanthemums, but now they are replaced with plastic chrysanthemums for products sold at supermarkets and other stores. It does not, of course, kill bacteria, but is just a decoration. And decorations don’t make a product look much better. It can be said to be the remnant of a miracle that, although it became completely useless in the transition of time and the change of food culture, it barely escaped disappearing. It is a chrysanthemum belonging to the lowest layer of a “merchandise” just to be thrown away. On the other hand, for us Japanese, the chrysanthemum is also a special flower. It is also used in the crests and funerals of the Imperial Family, and is recognized as a dignified thing. While some chrysanthemums are mass-produced and discarded, others are unique or special. This work symbolically expresses the contradictions and chaos between Japan as an economic power and Japan as a traditionalist country.

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Kikka, Chrysanthemum, 2014
W40xH40xD1cm　plastic artificial flowers, falcata, silver foil, iron nail