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 Japan
How to make art out of foam? Kohei Nawa shows you
For years, cosmologists and astronomers have hypothesized about the presence of another planet that is claimed to boast a bigger mass than Earth; as big as ten times. This planet is said to be situated in the outermost regions of the solar system and could even potentially be inhabited by unknown celestial beings. Starting …
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. …
At age 95, Fumiko Hori created this mural for the Fukushima Airport Read More
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 …
Katsuhiro Otomo’s mural at the Sendai Airport – Riding the Waves Read More
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 …
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...
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 …
Sou Fujimoto’s House H – A reflection of modern Japan Read More
One of Chiharu Shiota’s best works – Room of Memory
From using thousands of keys to web threads to suspending a bunch of suitcases, Chiharu Shiota’s works always inspire. Among her best artworks is A Room of Memory, which is famous for its Berlin Wall aesthetics. A Room of Memory All her artworks focus on expressing memories and experiences from past events. And A …
One of Chiharu Shiota’s best works – Room of Memory Read More
Junya Ishigami’s Art Biotop Water Garden – Is this architecture?
Who is Junya Ishigami? Junya Ishigami is a Japanese architect. He was born in Kanagawa prefecture in 1974. In 2000, he obtained a master’s degree in architecture and planning at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He had a short stint working at Kazuyo Sejima between 2000 and 2004 at SANAA. Accomplishments Right …
Junya Ishigami’s Art Biotop Water Garden – Is this architecture? Read More
These are some of Yasuaki Onishi’s most impressive works
Who is Onishi Yasuaki? Japanese artist Onishi Yasuaki is well-known for his ethereal art installations, paintings and sculptures that he creates using a mix of materials. Born in 1979 in Osaka, the artist has been at the forefront of creating new forms and inspiring a sense of awe, etherealism, and thoughtfulness with his work. He …
These are some of Yasuaki Onishi’s most impressive works Read More
Photographer Jeff Wall & A sudden gust of wind
Jeff Wall is a Canadian Photographer that is known by many as one of the pioneers of conceptual photography. His photography skills and the corpus of theoretical texts make him an influential figure in postmodern art. Wall is well-known for staging photographs. Jeff Wall’s A Sudden Gust of Wind, 1993 Jeff Wall’s A Sudden …
Yayoi Kusama & Pumpkins – What you should know
A life without art would be soundless, tasteless, and shapeless; essentially, an abyss. A life without art would be dull because art is beneath the structure of everything and anything that matters. No one recognizes its fundamental need to society and audiences more than artist Yayoi Kusama does. The global success of Kusama Yayoi …
Mariko Mori’s Dream temple – Based on a 1,400-year-old building
For any artist, the greatest challenge must be the search for images that do not feature in their unique personal situations but which humans can relate to. For the most part, something that quickly comes to mind when viewing artwork is beauty, love, death, birth or sex. The works of Mariko Mori have this …
Mariko Mori’s Dream temple – Based on a 1,400-year-old building Read More
Sou Fujimoto Architects’ unique House N in Japan
What is the House N? The choice of location for the House N project is quite symbolic as it sits at the center of an area that is practically dominated by 2-storey, pitched tiles roof, timber huts. To passers-by and everyone who sees it, the question is ‘who lives there?’. The answer to that question …
Takehiro Iikawa & the cat that doesn’t fit the frame
Japan’s obsession with cats Japan has always been obsessed with cat culture, from the toys it produces to some of its most famous artworks. Japan’s obsession with cats can be traced back to Japanese folklore, where cats were presumed to not only symbolize good fortune but they were believed to have protective powers as well. …
Takehiro Iikawa & the cat that doesn’t fit the frame Read More
Photographer Eiji Ohashi & the beauty of vending machines in Japan
There is a hidden burst of magic that resides within a vending machine, all alone in the middle of the night, oblivious of the darkness but, in fact, shining light all around itself. Even more intriguing is the thought of an elderly man who has dedicated his life to travel, wading through rough terrain …
Photographer Eiji Ohashi & the beauty of vending machines in Japan Read More
What are Fujiko Nakaya’s fog sculptures all about?
Fujiko Nakaya’s work is simply transcendent. Primarily featuring fog, her ephemeral creations are always climate-responsive and influenced mainly by nature. Her works are moving and changing and designed to allow visitors to enter and interact with them. Because the fog installations are always centered on nature, the audience experiences are always varied due to …
What are Fujiko Nakaya’s fog sculptures all about? Read More
Tokujin Yoshioka’s Rainbow Church – The liberation of light
Rainbow Church Rainbow church is aptly named and refers to an eight-meter-high installation that creates a rainbow as light is refracted within its space. The installation is a wall of crystal prism that throws off rainbows to anyone within the installation space. The 500 crystal prisms that make up the installation allow light passing through …
Tokujin Yoshioka’s Rainbow Church – The liberation of light Read More
Mariko Mori’s UFO – Your thoughts come to life
Viewer’s brainwaves projected onto a screen How many times do art and science come together? In Mariko Mori’s Wave UFO art and science have come together in a creation that is just fascinating. This artwork uses neuroscience, computer graphics, architectural engineering, and sound to create an interactive experience where viewers can see their thoughts come …
Francesco Jodice’s What We Want – How do we live today?
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 …
Francesco Jodice’s What We Want – How do we live today? Read More
Yayoi Kusama’s most outstanding sculptures – Pumpkins & Flowers
About Yayoi Kusama 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 on a monumental scale when need be. Her …
Yayoi Kusama’s most outstanding sculptures – Pumpkins & Flowers Read More