From the Film Maker:

The scene depicts a huge and luscious bounty, practically coming at you from the canvas, reflecting the element being represented, and how lucky we are to have it. I immediately thought of creating characters out of this produce, and to have them celebrate earth through one of the greatest forms of expression, dance.

The animation focuses on a cherry blossom, and plays tribute to Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’. As a child I was enamoured with ‘The Nutcracker’ and Disney’s ‘Fantasia’, and loved how they had the ability to pull you into this alternate world of parading toy soldiers and dancing mushrooms. In my work I tried to evoke the same sense of childhood innocence and joy that I felt when watching them.

The dance ends on a slightly sombre note, bringing the characters back to reality, and to remember the real reason they’re here to begin with: to be eaten.

Emily Marcom

A piece inspired by Joachim Beuckelaer, The Four Elements: Earth, 1569