Yasuhiro Suzuki: Please watch your step
“Please watch your step” by japanese artist Yasuhiro Suzuki was one of four public installations organized by the digital public art project at the haneda airport in toyko. suzuki’s floating human shaped balloon was an experiment in getting users to participate in public art. for many, airports can be a place devoid of human emotion with its vast size and long waiting periods. this site intervention hoped to evoke a positive response from by passers and provide an element of humor and surprise to their journey.
‘it’s important for people to experience and participate in public art, but you can’t get everyone in an airport to do so. however, when I think of the sight of people enjoying my work and some of the others, [I feel that] I want a lot of airport visitors to enjoy the art exhibit.‘ – YS
‘Please watch your step’ is part of ‘technology to create digital art’, a research proposal selected by japanese science and technology agency (JST CREST). it is currently being exhibited at the cyber arts japan exhibition, which celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the ars electronica festival in linz, austria. the show will be on display until march 22 at the museum of contemporary art, Tokyo. | Via
lotta
With the emergence of lotta, iida has once again achieved a mobile phone with simultaneously natural and supple stylistic sense. Iwasaki Ichiro, the designer of iida’s first product, G9, has imparted to lotta a sense of purpose you don’t see in mobile phones anymore. A sense of balance—elegance and casualness, strength and flexibility, simplicity and graciousness—is important.
The mobile phone’s very essence lies in balance between these qualities, which creates a sense of individuality that goes straight to the heart. lotta’s sensibility is expressed in such details. It sits firmly in your hand and casts a delicate, trapezoidal silhouette. A two-tone contrast plays on its bright surface and features a matte finish and polished texture.
(^_^)365(O_O) (Hello 365)
Heads up for all iphone lovers.
The Japan Graphic Designers Association (JAGDA) and Heidelberg Japan K. K. have recently released a 2010 tear-off calendar: “(^_^)365(O_O)” (Hello 365). 365 Designers for 365 Days. Each sheet is designed by one of them so that each day of the year we can enjoy a different graphic. It includes a variety of designs, printing techniques and types of paper. Unfortunately this product is sold out but for our happiness it is possible to buy a digital version of this calendar, making it viewable using different devices such as your laptop or your mobile.
Yayoi Kusama
Yayoi Kusama’sshow at PAC Milan | November 18 2009 – February 7 2010
If you happen to be in Milan make sure you go and check I want to live Forever, Yayoi Kusama’s art exhibition at PAC (Padiglione di Arte Contemporanea), Milan. An exclusive event for Italy, dedicated to the unquestioned protagonist of Japanese contemporary art whose works are part of the most prestigious collection all around the world.
She describes herself as an “obsessive artist”. Her work shows some attributes of minimalism, surrealism, popart and abstract expressionism, and is infused with autobiographical and psychological content.
Early in Kusama’s career, she began covering surfaces (walls, floors, canvases, and later, household objects and naked assistants) with the polka dots that would become a trademark of her work. The vast fields of polka dots, or “infinity nets,” as she called them, were taken directly from her hallucinations.
Converse Dress Code 1/2 Collection
Dress Up + Dress Down x 1/2 = Jack Purcell S MDLN from the Dress Code 1/2 Collection. Released by Converse Japan. | via
Tokujin Yoshioka: Maison Hermès window display
Based on a window display he first presented in 2004, the japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka has now restructured it using a japanese actress currently being presented at Maison Hermès, Japan. The installation will run from now until january 19th, 2010.
“On designing a window-display of Maison Hermès, I intended to express people’s daily ‘movements’ with a suspicion of humor. There are moments when I perceive a hidden presence of a person in the movements born naturally in daily life. I created a design where one can perceive someone behind the scarves as if life were being breathed into them. The window is designed with an image of woman projected on to a monitor. The scarf softly sways in the air in response to the woman’s blow.” - TY.
Dunlop Melody Road
Dunlop Falken Tires are being promoted in Japan through association with a “Melody Road” set up in the Nagano Prefecture. A billboard informs motorists that if they slow down to 40 km/h on the twisting hilly road, they will hear a melody played out by their tires on the road. The safety message won the Grande INNOVA Lotus at Adfest 2009 and a Gold Outdoor Lion at Cannes International Advertising Festival 2009. See the campaign online at melodyroad.dunlop.co.jp.
MUJI & LEGO
The Japanese retail brand MUJI and LEGO teamed up to develop a set of 4 different boxes. Inside those boxes you’ll find the classic LEGO bricks but also a few sheets of paper. No big deal. But when you also have the right punch hole tool, you can combine both to create something new.
You can order a set here (when you speak some Japanese).
Umbrella Shoulder Holder
I know, August is probably not the best month to remind you the existence of umbrellas, but this way you will be able to get it from Amazon Japan before autumn’s rain catches you by surprise.
Umbrella Shoulder Holder will allow you to do whatever you want with your hands while you’re outside and it’s raining.
Unless you have to bend, of course.
Ryuichi Ogino
Ryuichi Ogino is a Japanese artist,working between Tokyo and the West Coast. For his creations, he uses a variety of mediums: from handmade paper-clay toy figures, acrylic paints, wood, lined paper, and canvas, to digital renderings. He has more recently shown his works at Giant Robot, Receiver Gallery, White Walls, Park Life, and Project. His artworks, which are definitely a result of the contemporary pop culture’s trends, can be purchased at Panorama, an indipendent publisher based in Tokyo.
大日本人 Big Man Japan
If you are into Japanese pop culture, the bizarre sense of humor and the absurdity of Big Man Japan will surely entertain and amuse you. Director, protagonist and famous comedian, Hitoshi Matsumoto, has reinterpreted the familiar path of traditional daikaiju (big monster) pics, creating a mockumentary with CG monster battles and Power Rangers parody. But don’t expect the action and speed of Hollywood super-heroes movies and of course it’s to be expected that some people will get the joke and some will not.
Q-pot
Do you like French macaroons? Do you love chocolate? Do you crave for sweets? Japanese brand Q-pot creations cannot satisfy your discriminate taste, but they are a joy for your eyes and they will make you drool.
Q-pot designer, Tadaaki Wakamatsu, makes small jewelry pieces out of wax: he moulds and cuts the wax to create an ideal shape and then he casts it in metal. He aims to make people happy, positive and excited through his accessories, which become a communicative vehicle: wouldn’t you strike up a conversation with someone wearing a creamy blueberry cake ring?
