Butterfly Effect

At first sight, the artwork seems to portray a peaceful, almost magical scene. But with his artwork Butterfly Effect, Masamichi Shimada attempts to portray how something as delicate as a butterfly can possess such immense power.

In Masamichi’s artwork, the enlightenment of the butterfly wings is a direct consequence of the movement of the water, which is caused by the passing of boats. It displays a miniature version of Lorenz’s chain of cause and effect, but instead of being the cause of destructive power, the passing boats evoke unpredictably beautiful light patterns in the wings of the butterflies. Butterfly Effect, much like the rest of Masamichi’s oeuvre, has a positive outlook on the world. The artist emphasizes that even though problems and challenges are seemingly big, a small act of just one person can make all the difference.