Journeys (of Human Kindness)

 

Journeys (of Human Kindness) is a project inspired loosely by the ancient Japanese tradition of Senbazuru (千羽鹤) which translates to 'A Thousand Cranes'. It is a legend of a thousand origami cranes being created in faith and hope that a wish shall be granted.


I have been making origami cranes since I was a child as I find the simplicity and serenity of the process involved in folding a piece of paper into something beautiful highly compelling and therapeutic.

All the cranes in Journeys (of Human Kindness) are made by my own two hands, with faith in the kindness of humans, from scraps of paper that crosses my path on a daily basis. From tickets, sales receipts, advertising literature to takeaway menus, these little pieces of modern day disposables would have been destined for the recycling bin straight after they pass through my hands. Extending their purpose in life by transforming them into origami cranes full of thoughtfulness and a little bit of soul, I hope to send them along onto new diverted journeys with the faith that some human kindness will follow and be allowed to spread its wings.

The idea of Journeys (of Human Kindness) started growing in my head when I was selling my photographic prints and sculptures in craft fairs a while ago. I was making origami cranes as I sat there, partly to pass time and partly to keep my fingers nimble in the cold. Over the period of time I was giving the cranes away, I have had some beautiful exchanges with strangers who took my cranes home with them. It was those brief moments of bonding and connections we had that finally sparked me into this attempt at creating and circulating these little notions of human kindness.

RejuvenArt seems the perfect launch for my cranes to take flight into the world where they shall, hopefully, spread a little love, compassion and human kindness, and be allowed the opportunity to live out the last of their journey as a modern world disposable giving joy and comfort to someone in need of it.



For more information about the Journeys (of Human Kindness), be it regarding adopting an origami crane (or 2), or if you wish to make a contribution of any sort to the year-long project, please feel free to contact me at ket.unlimited@gmail.com