It is that time of the year again, when lurid heart shapes scream from retail windows, when roses become overpriced only to wilt the very next day, when chocolate makers go into overdrive and when cards, with their over-the-top messages, fly off the shelves !

Yes. Love is special. But love is also an all-year-round thing that cannot be defined in the celebration of a single day’s declaration. It is with this thought in mind, we bring to you The Tree of Love, inspired by the timeless blossoms of a Japanese springtime, when century old trees bear flowers that pay ode to the circle of life, the reality of seasons, the psychology of pleasure and ultimately, the warmth of the deepest human emotion.

Valentine’s Day is a day of love and romance for some, but for many, it is a day of bitter desperation and longing. An anxiousness juxtaposed against endearment, reassurance, promise, commitment and hope. An infatuation the speed of Cupid’s arrow, a heartbreak that vows never to believe again. Such is the diversity and power of a feeling so strong. And someone anonymously proclaimed … forget love, I’d rather fall in chocolate.

Even though the exact historic evolvement of the day is unknown, the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia and the martyrology of St. Valentine are considered legendary and the festival is celebrated with fervor as the commencement of fertility and purification. Mid-February is also the mating season of birds in Europe, while pagan traditions point to the pairing of young men and women at the first sight of flowering tulip buds.

Our treewould be in full bloom on the 14th of February, connecting the dawning of spring with love and resurrection. A cacophony of myriad elements portraying growth would subtly signify a humanistic view of nature, society, and the individual.

Love is a universal phenomenon. So do we really need Valentine's Day ?
I'll leave it up to you.