1000 bronze cranes, floor tiles, chair, book and desk
The “1000 Crane” project looks to create a cross culture dialog by reflecting on war, reconciliation and peaceful transitions.
6th grade Japanese school children, from Hakushima Elementary School, Hiroshima, Japan (a school that was destroyed by the first atomic bombing), produced 1000 origami paper cranes. These cranes were direct cast in bronze by an American artist. The resulting pieces were displayed at the rebuilt school on August 6, 2016 commemorating the first atomic bombing thus making a permanent symbol for peace, hope, and no war world wide. The piece then traveled back to the United States and was shown to promote these same ideals.
The inspiration for this project is the story of Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was 2 years old when the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. She developed leukemia due to the bomb’s radiation. Sadako believed in a legend that promised anyone that folded 1,000 paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako began folding paper cranes in the hope for world peace and that she would get well. She folded 644 origami cranes before she died. As a tribute, her classmates finished folding her paper cranes, and a world movement began.
The piece consisted of a 20’ x 20’ floor tile square. White 1’ x 1’ floor tiles, as used in a public school, were placed in a grid format. A child’s school desk was placed in the center of the square. The 1000 bronze cranes were “littered” across the tiles representing the aftermath of war.