Thomas Demand Blossom V, 2015

Blossom V shows branches with a myriad of delicate blossoms. Characteristic of Sakura, Japanese cherry blossoms, bright red sepals at the stem and pink petals frame a dark red stigma in their center. In traditional Japanese custom the motif because of the cherry blossoms’ short bloom refers to the fleetingness of life and beauty. At the same time, a sign of spring, the blossoming trees represent a new beginning. Blossom V gives a different meaning to this reading as the image refers to the cherry blossoms in bloom at the time of the Boston Marathon bombing. A companion piece, Backyard (2014) shows the side staircase of the building where Tamerlan Tsarnaev lived with his wife and child in Cambridge, Massachusetts where a cherry tree in bloom can be seen in the background. The series was printed using a dye transfer process. This method is known for the saturated colors, spatial depth and durability of the print, but also for its long production time. The process is closely associated with the work of William Eggleston who introduced its use in the mid 1970s into art photography.