ARCH. MICHAEL DAKUDAO'S ORIGAMI ART INSTALLATION

“Mom, are those made out of paper?” asked my 6 year old daughter, pointing out to the 5 piece origami art installation seen vividly even from my office window. The structure was still on its way to completion at the time, but it didn’t fail to call attention from both the young and old. The visually arresting size and bright colors of the origami cranes filled my daughter’s mind with wonder and excitement, prodding Mommy to take her out into the field so she could have a closer look. She is no stranger to origami and paper crafts, and, as such, she was swept away with the full-scale, 3-dimensional piece. Her eyes were wide with amazement as she looked up at the giant crane in the middle, still skeptical on how one can “fold metal into a shape of a crane.” This innocent sense of wonder is just typical of children of her age. As parent, I try and give her discerning mind the freedom to dissect mysteries on her own to develop her cognitive thinking. A couple of theories thrown here and there, I jumped into her analysis and cited examples of different art mediums. 

Origami, in the primary sense, is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding with which a flat sheet of paper is transformed into different forms without the aid of scissors and glue. In the case of the origami rotunda, which now takes center stage in the SM Lanang Premier compound, the art was translated into metalwork by one of Davao’s highly respected artists, Arch. Michael Ebro Dakudao.  

The first of its kind in the Philippines, the origami art installation was inspired by the designer’s family history and association to the Japanese arts and culture. In Arch. Dakudao’s speech, during the inauguration of the origami rotunda he named after his grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Santiago P. Dakudao, Sr., he proudly shared, “Honestly, I have long wanted to pay homage to my grandparents.  As the Japanese figured prominently in my grandparents’ history, my design inspiration came easy in the form of the art of origami.  The origami is a universally accepted art form signifying beauty, peace and hope.  And the most famous among the origami forms is that of the crane.  The crane is a symbol of long life as well as happiness, honor and loyalty, and good luck.  The metal crane sculptures I used in the installation are painted in carefully selected bright automotive colors like red (love, passion and desire), orange (enthusiastic energy), yellow (freedom and joy to celebrate a new beginning), blue (meaningful spirituality), and finally, white (hope for the future and joyous eternity).”

 

The inauguration was attended by VIP’s and local personalities, with Japanese Consul Koichi Ibarra as the Dakudao family’s guest of honor. Dance and visual artists also came to witness the launch of the city’s newest and most colorful landmark. 

“I want to honor my grandparents as they were the most influential people in my family’s life besides our parents.  Call it filial piety as we Filipinos value with great esteem the important and wonderful elder members of the family.  With this in mind, the clan wants to celebrate our grandparents’ memory with a lasting memorial to honor them with.  After all, the heirs wouldn’t be here in Davao City if not for them. The Dr. & Mrs. Santiago Pamplona Dakudao, Sr. Origami Rotunda is as much a tribute to the pre-war Japanese migrant workers of Davao who contributed immensely in making The Land of Promise into what it is today--- a modern and bustling City of Davao."
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Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A1, INdulge, Edge Davao, Vol. 6 Issue 143, 02 October 2013.