MAN'S BEST FRIEND 2015
Hidesamuro Ueno brought his dog, Hachiko, to Tokyo in 1924, and every day when he left for his teaching job, Hachiko would stand by the door and watch him go. Then at 4 p.m. Hachiko would arrive at Shibuya Station to meet his owner. A year later Ueno died of a stroke at work, but Hachiko continued to return to the train station at 4 p.m. every single day, searching for his owner’s face amid the slew of passengers getting off the train. Eventually, the stationmaster made the dog a bed at the station and began leaving him bowls of food and water. Hachiko returned to the train station every day for 10 years until he died in 1935, but in a way, the dedicated dog remains at the station. A year before his death, Shibuya Station installed a bronze statue of Hachiko, and although the original statue was melted down during World War II, a new version was created in 1948 by the original artist’s son.
Part of Craft Victoria’s 2015 Window Walk Project, Man’s Best Friend showcased a vibrant collection of playfully handcrafted ceramic ornaments along side a fetching range of unique fine jewellery.
Located in the window of Melbourne's prestigious men's jewellery gallery Lord Coconut, this mini show was open for viewing during September 2015.
