Apples & People explores the astonishing story of the apple, connecting its diverse history to humanity and culture. Based upon a newly commissioned global map of the apple which traces a network of stories from the ancient world to the present day, this online programme and associated social media will reveal just how significant and iconic this humble fruit has become.
Arriving with European settlers, the domestic apple adjusted to life in America. This new Apple Story traces the apple’s journey with some of the first settlers who landed in Virginia on 14th May 1607. Featuring art from advertising branding, American portrait and landscape painting, scientific watercolour illustration and photography.
As apple blossom reaches its peak in Herefordshire’s many orchards, our latest Apple Story looks at the work of artists John Everett Millais, Edward Burne-Jones, William and May Morris and poet S.F.B. Lane.
To coincide with our latest story ‘Apple Blossoms’ we have commissioned composer and musician Luke Faulkner to write and play a piece of piano music called ‘Spring Rhapsody’ that takes its inspiration from Millais’ painting ‘Spring (Apple Blossoms)’.
On the 21st April 1962, the Fuji apple variety was first registered at Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with the prescient title ‘Apple No. 1 of Agriculture and Forestry’. Our latest story ‘Apple Number One’ features a song called ‘Song of Apple’ from the film ‘Gentle Breeze’, vintage advertising, the original tree of Fuji in Morioka, Japan.
A series of more than forty short stories will explore different aspects of the apple’s significance to people across the world. These stories will be released over eighteen months, starting in January 2021, with the latest appearing here.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter to be informed when new stories are published. See all the published Apple Stories here.
Fruit Label © Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center
John Everett Millais, Spring (Apple Blossoms) 1856-59 © Lady Lever Art Gallery
Willem van der Velde the Younger - Shipping in a Rough Sea 1633-1707 © National Trust Images Tatton Park
Pink Lady ® TV creative ‘Kalifa’ for Pink Lady ® Copyright © McCann 2020Follow us on social media:
Tōson Shimazaki
Home, Journal‘Hatsukoi’ or ‘First Love’ is a poem written by Japanese author and romantic poet Tōson Shimazaki which tells the story of dreamy love and growing up, set amongst apple trees. This commission is read by Masayo Sasaki with a piano accompaniment.
The Holographic Properties of the Apple Crunch
Home, JournalThis is the story behind the discovery that an apple crunch sound has holographic properties, rendered visible by using a CymaScope to produce the holographic images and video.
Mangzi Tian
Home, JournalMangzi Tian is inspired by nature’s imagery especially apples and estimates that he has painted some two hundred apples over the last 15 years.
Artist Barnaby Barford’s obsession with the apple
Home, JournalIn recent years, Barford has become obsessed with the Apple and has been looking at the world through its lens, using the humble fruit to explore fundamental questions driving human nature, especially our anxiety afflicted society and our incessant need for more.