The Memory of Place

Keiko Mukaide

24 May - 2 November, 2008

The Memory of Place by Keiko Mukaide re-opens for a second season during summer 2008.

The installation, which opened in 2007, is the latest commission to create challenging contemporary work within this unique historic space.

In The Memory of Place, Keiko responds to her sense of the space, and to the visual remains of the building’s former life, the stained glass, grave covers and carvings.

Using fire, water, glass, stone and light, she transforms the interior of the church, creating a spiritual space in which to reflect on the memory of loved ones.

A pool of water fills the nave of the church. The water in the pool flows towards the transept of the church, where a suspended column of glass rods is dramatically top-lit, suggesting a spiritual path to a higher place.

Visitors are invited to become involved with the installation by lighting a votive candle and floating it on the pool - connecting our modern life with that of our ancestors.

In the Japanese religious ceremony, Shoro nagashi, people release lanterns onto a river in mid summer, symbolising their ancestors' spirits ascending to heaven.

During 2007, more than 36,000 visitors experienced the peace and unique atmosphere of this installation.

New for 2008 - The Wish Tree

For 2008, Keiko has added a new dimension to the installation with The Wish Tree. Here a forged iron structure sculpted to look like a weeping willow is covered with folded pieces of handmade paper, tied to the branches.

Visitors can write a wish on a piece of the paper using a Japanese pen before folding it into a strip, origami-style, then adding it to a branch.

The photographs on this page of The Memory of Place are by Shannon Tofts.

Some of the materials for The Memory of Place were supplied by Edinburgh College of Art.