Tale of Time
Plaza Design, Kochi Health Science Center; Poetry with various landscaping materials; 90’ x 120’; Kochi City, Japan
Tale of Time is an interactive plaza and garden installation at the Kochi Health Science Center, designed to evoke a sense of wholeness and temporal reflection. Drawing inspiration from both Western labyrinths and traditional Japanese incense clocks, the plaza’s layout guides visitors along a meandering path shaped by Kanji characters from a poem (how many lives before I obtain my flower). At the center, a plum blossom–shaped fountain replaces the character for “my flower,” linking the design to the symbolic fullness of life and personal growth.
The experience of walking the labyrinth encourages focus and presence, creating a subtle shift in perception of time. The plum blossom, a revered symbol of resilience, patience, and renewal in Japanese culture, reinforces this theme. Just as the tree endures winter only to bloom with spring, visitors are invited to reflect on cycles of hope, perseverance, and rejuvenation. Water, poetry, and landscape converge to create a space that is at once meditative, restorative, and celebratory of life’s continuity.
Special thanks to Mr. Inoue for his vision and expert fabrication of the central plum blossom fountain.