Osamu Tezuka’s ceramic relief in Kōtō, Tokyo – Astro Boy & Beyond
Osamu Tezuka is often referred to as the Walt Disney of Japan. Regarded as one of the most legendary Manga artists of his generation, Tez...
Artworks & exhibitions in Asia
At age 95, Fumiko Hori created this mural for the Fukushima Airport
Fumiko Hori supervised the installation of the mural herself, quite an impressive feat for a woman aged 95 at the time. The giant relief wall was based on Hori’s original painting at the CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio. The relief carving at the airport helps to create an illusion of depth on an otherwise shallow surface. …
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Lin Yilin’s performance – Safely Maneuvering Across Lin He Road
Lin Yilin Lin Yilin needs no introductions in the world of performance art. As one of the most well-known Chinese artists, Yilin has made a name for himself for his contemporary interventions and performance pieces that often criticize China’s extreme urbanization, modernization, commercial globalization, as well as its geopolitical conflicts. Lin was born in Guangzhou, …
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Xu Zhen’s In just a blink of an eye – Defying the laws of physics?
Have you ever seen one of those perfectly timed photos that capture the exact moment someone begins to fall on their bum? With modern technology, it is not hard to capture that “perfect moment”. However, capturing that “perfect moment” in a live performance is nearly impossible; unless you are Xu Zhen. Chinese artist Xu …
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Katsuhiro Otomo’s mural at the Sendai Airport – Riding the Waves
Katsuhiro Otomo’s relief Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of Akira, the 1988 Japanese animated cyberpunk action film, is one of the most well-known manga artists, animators, screenwriters, and film directors in the world. Though he is best known for his manga series and film adaptations, Otomo crossed over into the sculpture world when he was asked …
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Chen Wenling’s bull fart sculpture – What you see might not be real
The Bull Fart Sculpture was exhibited in a Beijing art gallery in 2009 by celebrated Chinese artist Chen Wenling. Chen titled the work What You See Might Not Be Real to take an in-depth look at the international financial crisis that the world was grappling with at the time. Chen created the farting bull …
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A floating pavilion in Taipei – By Shen Ting Tseng Architects
The Floating Pavilion The Floating Pavilion was a temporary structure exhibited at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum Plaza, Taiwan, in 2016, as the winning design in the annual competition to build pavilions at different spaces in the TFAM complex. The pavilion was designed by Shen Ting Tseng Architects to add vitality to the plaza, which …
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Francis Alÿs’s Green Line & 58 liters of paint
What was it? In 1995, Francis Alÿs performed a walk holding a leaking can of blue paint in the Brazilian city of São Paulo. That simple walk was then interpreted as a poetic gesture. Nine years later, Alÿs re-enacted that same gesture with a leaking can of green paint. Alÿs’s performance provoked so much attention …
Frederik Buyckx’s almost mystical Kyrgyzstan photos
According to professional photographers, correct exposure is crucial to successful winter photography. While at it, they would also be quick to remind you of the challenges of this type of photography. These include the trickery of snow. Moreover, a good standby filter acts as a perfect polarizer. On top of that, the camera’s focus …
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Tiger & Turtle – A roller coaster for pedestrians
The locals call this sculpture the world’s slowest roller coaster, but the most fitting name will be stroller coaster. It gives visitors the pleasure of a fairground ride without the speed usually characterized by roller coaster rides. However, the official name is the Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain. This interactive installation-turned-landmark …
Sher Maker transformed a boring gas station into this ..
Renovation of a gas station Creatives find inspiration from some of the most uninspiring sources. Many of them find ideas from looking at others’ creations. Architects are in this category too. They get their creative juices running from some of life’s regular occurrences. A gas station is the last place you would expect to see …
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Why should you visit the Teshima Art Museum?
Why does the Teshima Art Museum that only hosts a single piece of work by one artist attract art lovers from all over the world? One of the main reasons is perhaps that this clever construction allows the audience a chance to not only look at the art. It lets you experience the buildings …
Chagall’s iconic windows at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem
In early 1962, renowned artist Marc Chagall stood in the synagogue at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centers in Jerusalem. Above him were twelve stained-glass windows that he had designed himself. It was this where he delivered a touching speech. Chagall had an audience of about three hundred people as he installed the windows, including …
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DP Architects’ pavilion – A gigantic zero-waste playground
Archifest 2016, Singapore In a fast-moving and vibrant city, Singaporeans often miss the chance to stop and take in the sights, color, and sounds of the city. Residents in this densely populated city where space is premium do not get many opportunities to enjoy big artforms. With this in mind, the Singapore Institute of Architects …
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Burmese artist Htein Lin & his powerful hand sculptures
Who is Htein Lin? Htein Lin (b. 1966) is an artist and pro-democracy activist. From 1998 to 2004, he was jailed for challenging the military dictatorship of Myanmar. Htein Lin was born in the tiny village of Mezaligon, in the country Burma, which was later named Myanmar, in 1989. In 1978, aged 12, Lin started …
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Park Seo-Bo’s Ecriture – Everything you need to know
Who is Park Seo-bo? Park Seo-bo is a Korean painter and part of the first generation of contemporary artists in South Korea. Park has been prolific in his career and considered by many as the godfather of Dansaekhwa, Korean minimalism, that began in the mid-1970s in South Korea. He is perhaps best known for his …
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Emily Jacir’s Where we come from & The power of her passport
Armed with an American passport, Emily Jacir knew she could do something to liberate fellow Palestinians to better their lives. So, when she asked them if there was anything she could do for them right there in Palestine, anywhere in Palestine, she had prepared herself for the sacrifice. Emily Jacir using her American passport …
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What is Nobuo Sekine’s Phase of Nothingness?
Who was Nobuo Sekine? Nobuo Sekine (1942-2019) was among the key figures of the Mono-ha (The school of things) group. The group was active between 196...
Shirin Neshat’s Turbulent forces you to take a side
What is Turbulent? Turbulent is a two-screen film installation by famous Iranian artist Shirin Neshat. It is among her most critically acclaimed works, having won her a Lion d’Or at the Venice Biennale back in 1999. It is also her first-ever venture into the world of video, an art medium that later played a significant …
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Sou Fujimoto’s House H – A reflection of modern Japan
Minimalism has become more than a fanciful idea or trend. Instead, it’s now a way of life for many people around the world. Sou Fujimoto captures the essence of minimalism through his House H. Through it, the audience gets a chance to see how space is now highly-priced due to its deficiency. You learn …
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The Tenri Station Plaza CoFuFun – Nendo’s largest project
What is the CoFuFun Plaza? CoFuFun Plaza is a work of wonders by the Japanese architecture company Nendo. It was constructed for the Tenri Station in the Nara region of Japan. The 6,000 m2 (64,583 sqft) plaza turned into a space that locals and visitors would be able to use for gatherings and events, as …
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