BIRD CAGE · YOKOHAMA TRIENNALE · JAPAN

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Bird Cage is a 5 meter high cocoon-like cone, constructed from hemp rope and steel, installed in the harbor of Yokohama, during the Yokohama Triennale of Art.

Each day of the exhibition, a “bird” made of balsa wood was flown out the top of the structure, rising up to 10 kilometers on a meteorological balloon. When the balloon burst, the bird glided down slowly, its exact landing point dependent upon prevailing winds. Each bird carried five seeds (rice, wheat, soy, oat and bean), along with a message asking whoever found the bird to plant the seeds.

Responsibilities included on-site coordination and production management, as well as as the documentation of the process.

When pressed, from the works of more than 100 artists on show, I singled out Yoko Ono’s “Freight Train” and Casagrande & Rintala’s “Bird Cage,” two large outdoor installations located in bayside parkland behind the Red Brick Warehouse No. 1.
The Japan Times

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Project management and on-site installation
for the architectural group Casagrande & Rintala

Architects
Marco Casagrande
Sami Rintala

Venue
Yokohama Triennale

Location
Yokohama · Japan

Year
2001

From: Toshio Tsurui
Subject: I have received the seeds

Hello… My son is 50 years old. My son is working at the Honmoku Pier in Yokohama. He has received the message on 07/Sep/2001 pm 4:00 @ Honnmoku Pier A5 container-yard. He has received the seeds.

Unfortunately I don’t have a land to seed the seeds in my home.