Photographer’s subtle look at how we customise living spaces
Francesco Jodice – What We Want, Hong Kong, T47, 2006
Ever been to a place and felt that it is not quite satisfactory in terms of how it looks? Well, Francesco Jodice is recreating spaces into what they should be if we had control of them. For a long time, people’s lives were influenced by the buildings that existed but the trend is taking a turn. Not even urban planners, engineers or architects can dictate life upon humanity anymore, this is the message that is being communicated by the ‘What We Want’ series. The project is centered around photography and modification of imagery.
Pumpkins & Tulips – Yayoi Kusama’s most outstanding public sculptures
Yayoi Kusama – Pumpkin, 1994, Benesse Art Site, Naoshima, Japan
Celebrating her 90th birthday in 2019, Yayoi Kusama is a leading Japanese artist and legend as far as art is concerned. While she deliberately makes unique pieces that can withstand the wear and tear of the outdoors, she is renowned for reproducing her art in monumental scale when need be. Her career spans over 6 decades and during this time her works have managed to enter the collection of museums such as the New York MoMA, LACMA, Tate Modern and others.
Andy Warhol’s retirement from painting
Andy Warhol blowing up Silver Clouds, Los Angeles, 1966
Andy Warhol is no stranger to critical acclaim; his various works introduced thousands of audiences to contemporary art which helped to put American artists on the map, and it waged a war against abstract expressionism. Warhol effectively managed, time and time again, to shatter distinctions in art and he helped to reshape the aesthetic criteria that many people used to categorize art. In true fashion, Warhol inspired an artistic revolution of epic proportions that was felt not just in America, but in other parts of the world as well.
Colorful artworks: Designed to be walked over
Joan Miró – Wall of the Barcelona Airport (detail), 1970, earthenware, 10x50m, Terminal B, El Prat Airport, Barcelona, Spain
If you have ever been to Barcelona, you must have walked over one of Joan Miro’s mosaics. The artist began to publicly display his work in 1976 when he chose the centre of Barcelona’s Rambla to permanently incorporate his work into a pavement. This was in fulfilment of a pledge he had made in 1968 to create four pieces of art which he would donate to the city of Barcelona where he was born. The use of different colors in the mosaic brings out the vibrancy that is his style of art. All the artwork that is associated with Joan Miró speaks the language of simplicity; generous use of color and simple shapes. More than four decades after his first outdoor work of art, the works of Joan Miró located in various parts of the world are enjoying facelifts of massive proportions.
Bridging cultures with influential sculptures & furniture – Isamu Noguchi
Isamu Noguchi – Red Cube Sculpture, 1968, 140 Broadway Between Cedar and Liberty Streets, Financial District in Lower Manhattan, New York, USA
A walk through Japan reveals the close correlation between nature and aesthetics. Amid the natural setup are works of art that remind everyone about the history, beliefs and affiliations of the Japanese people. The modern art concept of creating spectacular pieces to create an art park is becoming rather common owing to the pioneer work of artists like Isamu Noguchi. Having been an artist for 60 years, he has helped shape the aesthetic and cultural appearance of Japan and the US through the creation of sculpture parks. Even in death, Noguchi is still recognized for his artwork on furniture, gardens, ceramics and architecture. Although considered subtle and bold during his time, his work is now the standard for modern and expressionist art.
Owing to his mixed heritage, Isamu Noguchi was an internationalist and it is during his travels that he picked up the inspiration to express himself in sculptures. His inspiration for large scale sculpture works with a story actually came from Mexico. He would then incorporate Japanese tranquil garden and earthy ceramic setup as well as the Chinese light ink brushing technique into his work. As one would imagine, what he created from bringing together these different aspects was epic creativity. Once he had settled in his trade, he would maintain studios in New York and Japan, perhaps to declare allegiance to his roots. The works of Isamu Noguchi are evidently aimed at enhancing harmony in human coexistence. The blend of Western and Eastern cultures, modern and traditional life, organic and geometric alignment of nature are some of the efforts Isamu Noguchi made to create tranquility in his work.
Isamu Noguchi – Red Cube Sculpture, 1968, 140 Broadway Between Cedar and Liberty Streets, Financial District in Lower Manhattan, New York, USA
Isamu Noguchi – Red Cube Sculpture, 1968, 140 Broadway Between Cedar and Liberty Streets, Financial District in Lower Manhattan, New York, USA
Isamu Noguchi – Octetra, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, USA
What happens when 8 million LED lights illuminate Japanese town
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Japan seems to be way ahead of the rest of world when it comes to experimenting with lights. It is a culture throughout the country to have impressive light festivals over winter. Other than showcasing the creativity of new talent every year, such festivals give life to the boring weather of winter. It is no wonder that most people love to extend these displays well into spring.
First time visitors will find the numerous festivals captivating but natives and frequent visitors will agree that the Nabana no Sato is the highlight of them all. The festival is a creation of the Nagashima hot spring resort located in Mie prefecture. Setting up the light display takes a record four months and involves thousands of workers to fix the over 8 million LED lights. The most outstanding feature of this festival is the stunning tunnel of lights which spans 100 meters. Every year, so as to make it feel like a new experience for visitors, a detail of the tunnel is magnified and this year is not different. If you were in Nabana no Sato in any other year, you will not see the red, green and orange color change at the tunnel of lights.
To someone who has never been to Japan over the winter season, it is hard to imagine that the flowers on display in the various festivals are real. It is easy to get lost in the marvel of the seasonal flower shows but even more captivating are the winter illuminations. Every year, there is an increase in the number of visitors who tour Japan for the winter illumination festivities and in 2017 alone, it is estimated that a total of 2 million visitors will tour the Nabana no Sato for the festivities.
Nabana no Sato is within proximity to the Nagashima Spa Land and for visitors travelling by public means, the location is accessible by bus or train services. This is an excellent location for a weekend away from the busy city life; a great stress relief activity is strolling through the grounds that are alive with shrubs and seasonal flowers. Many people find that there is something new to see regardless of what season it is. The next time you are close by over November to March, do not forget to drop by and when you do, you better have your camera ready to snap away. The beauty of the winter illumination festival is nothing to describe in words but a picture will capture it all!
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Winter Illumination at Nabana no Sato, Kuwana, Japan
Photos of world’s biggest statues taken from unusual angles
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Jibo Kannon, Kagaonsen, Japan, 73m (239ft), Built in 1987
Through several centuries, there have been different statues erected around the world. These statues vary in sizes and what they represent. Photographer Fabrice Fouillet embarked on a tour to study and take photographs of the biggest and most imposing statues in the world; A project he named Colosses. The project brings about a change in how these monuments are viewed, in other words, the idea of the project is not entirely to capture images of the statues or show off their sizes or the symbol they represent. The project however is to show these figures in the environment they are in and how they fit into the landscape and their connections to their immediate surroundings. Colosses is a study of the landscape in which monuments and commemorative statues are erected, and tends to bring out another perspective from which these symbolic representations can be viewed.
There can be different reasons why statues are erected and these include political, ideological or religious. Most times, statues are erected to keep alive the memory of a person or event and with the passing of the years, the statue will eventually become a symbol for the community.
As the series Colosses is all about the landscapes in which these statues are sited, we get to see the connections these gigantic declarations have with their immediate environment. A lot of statues were erected around the world in the 1990s with many of them located in Asia. Right now the world’s highest statue is undergoing construction in India and it will go as high as 182 meters which will be almost twice the size of the statue of liberty.
For this project, Fouillet took photographs of the statues outside their surroundings totally detaching them from their natural environment thereby giving a wider view and perspective to how these huge monuments fit into the landscape. He captures the monuments from a perspective we don’t usually get to see every day. Some of these monuments include the Dai Kanon in Sendai, Japan which he framed from a few blocks away. Christ the King monument in Swiebudzin, Poland was framed from behind. For some of the monuments, Fouillet shoots wide enough to capture the details of the things in the environment of these looming monoliths. For example, in the image of the Grand Byakue Kannon in Takazai, Japan, there is a Coca-Cola machine just down the hill away from the monument. According to Fouillet, his intention is to take out the monument from its regular touristic and religious setting which we are already used to.
So far, the project has spanned through ten countries and Fouillet thinks the project would not be complete if he does not capture the monument of Genghis Kahn riding on horseback which is located on the banks of the Tuul River in Mongolia and the Sardar Patel statue which is under construction in India. For the biggest statue in the world at the moment, the Spring Temple Buddha in Henan, China, Fouillet said he was unable to find a satisfying angle.
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, African Renaissance Monument, Dakar, Senegal, 49m (161ft), Built in 2010
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Alyosha Monument, Murmansk, Russia 35.5 m (116.5 ft), Built in 1974
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Amitabha Buddha, Ushiku, Japan, 110m (360ft), Built in 1993
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Ataturk Mask, Buca, Izmir, Turkey, 40m (132ft), Built in 2009
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Christ Blessing, Manado, Indonesia, 30m (98.5ft), Built in 2007
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Christ the King Świebodzin, Poland, 36m (120 ft), Built in 2010
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Dai Kannon, Sendai, Japan, 100m (330 ft), Built in 1991
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Great Buddha of Thailand, Ang Thong, Thailand, 92m (301ft), Built in 2008
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Grand Byakue, Takazaki, Japan, 42m (137ft), Built in 1936
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Guan Yu Statue, Yuncheng, China, 80m (262ft), Built in 2010
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Guanyin, Foshan, China, 62m (203ft), Built in 1998
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Laykyun Setkyar Monywa, Myanmar, 116m (381ft), Built in 2008
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Mao Zedong, Changsha, China, 32m (105ft), Built in 2009
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, Mother of the Fatherland, Kiev, Ukraine, 62m (203ft), Built in 1981
Fabrice Fouillet – Colosses, The Motherland Call, Volgograd, Russia, 87m (285ft), Built in 1967
