"East is West" is written and recited by Hamish Low. The photographs and poem were commissioned by Nissan Design Europe for their "East Meets West" showcase, to celebrate the London Design Festival.
Twelve Sojournposse photographers and one guest musician embarked on a special journey from East to West to collect photographic evidence within one month from around the world, to create a vivid montage of the given theme.
From the Silk Route in China to Cowtown rodeo show in the US, we joined the dots from East to West. Thus discovering that the concept of “East” and “West” is both myth and reality.
Our participants for this project are from international backgrounds: Biniam Ghezai, David Salas, Deshan Tennekoon, Guy Henshilwood, Jaime Saez de Adana, Janet Greco, Kess Bohan, Richard Bull, Salina Christmas, Sean Patrick Samuels, Stefano D'Amadio, Zarina Holmes and Taylan Polat.
EAST IS WEST
the future is
strange and syncretic
everything we have ever wished
anything we have ever hoped
the future is the present
the centre is everywhere
so wonder and wander
as far your mind will take you
to the edge of the stars
with the earth firmly under your feet
As east is west
as south is north
all directions are equal
you may be yourself
and you are your sequel
as changes rearrange
we exchange
a sense
of understanding
we connect
we become
something greater
than the sum of our parts
we are citizens of the future
of the billion possible futures
each as close as your next breath
as imminent as eye contact
as a split-second intuition
as a smile of recognition
from the one-oh-one-oh-one
of someone
or something new
like you
and me
make
two
(two) halves make a whole
two hemispheres
make a mind
two minds are better than one
and with all the things we have seen
all the dreams we can dream
we have stranger dreams still yet to come
//////
you are you
and I am me
East is West
and we are free
By Hamish Low
See Sojournposse entries for Nissan Design Europe's East Meets West at London Design Festival 2009. sojournposse.com/nissaneastwest/
