Category — Art

These disturbing and potentially NSFW are both colorful and intriguing. They were taken by artist “photographer Hal“ and are actual vacuum-sealed people!!! These pictures are Hal’s latest project called Flesh Love; which quite literary captures couples in vacuum seals. The name is very fitting, as with a small play on words, it can be seen as flesh or fresh (since the Japanese language does not have a “R” or a “L” but rather something in-between). Hal started out photographing couples in bath tubs, as he felt that couples were brought closer to each other, but slowly progressed to photographing them in the large vacuum seal packs.

Hal recruits his models from the streets of Kabukichou in Shinjuku, known for its off-beat and adult entertainment. When Hal comes across an interesting couple, he takes his time to negotiate. But when taking his photos, he has to be quick to snap a few photos of his vacuum sealed subjects before they run out of air.

On one assignment I had to visit a prison later to obtain permission for the final print. Happily though, for the most part I’ve had many joyful moments with many interesting scenes to capture. There was even a couple who married soon after one event, and it all began in a bathtub! – Hal

Photographer Hal also has a photobook “Flesh Love” available on iPad (¥1,000).

Source: laughing squid | Photographer Hal

“table of pencils” (2010) | pencil, acrylic board | installation view at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2011) | photo : Masaru YANAGIBA | design collaboration：HIROYUKI TANAKA ARCHITECTS | cooperation：Masuki Co.,LTD

Does art serve a purpose? Does it have a function? I would like to believe that it does.

Table of Pencils is the work of sculptor Motohiro Tomii. “Does art serve a purpose? Does it have a function?” These are the questions he asked himself as he set about working on this project. In recent years Tomii has been primarily concerned with the reason we make things. But instead of perusing an answer through his art – “Will we ever find the answers if we keep making things? No, definitely not,” he says – Tomii has quite literally turned the tables on himself, accepting that art is something incomprehensible. His objective is to understand, in fact, how much we don’t understand.

The Table of Pencils was created specifically to walk a thin line between conceptualism and utilitarianism. But leaving the “is it art?” debate aside, I thinks it’s a fantastic table. How fun would it be to walk into a super serious meeting around this table?

“table of pencils” (2010) | pencil, acrylic board | photo : Masaru YANAGIBA | design collaboration：HIROYUKI TANAKA ARCHITECTS | cooperation：Masuki Co.,LTD

Many thanks to Mr. Tomii (the artist) and Ms. Chinzei (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo) for helping obtain images.

“29000→600” | images courtesy the artist

Ryo Shimura, a young artist and sculpter working primarily with plastic, uses his art to tackle major environmental issues like endangered species. His latest work “29000→600” illustrates the dramatic drop in wild hippos due primarily to poaching destruction of habitat. The effect of seeing a plentiful number of numerous figurines, but then learning that’s how many are left, is quite impactful. His work was recognized last year when it won an award at the 2011 Eco & Art awards hosted by Konica Minolta.

Here’s a look at some of his other work, which includes meerkat crayons (in a full spectrum of 36 colors!) as well as sad-faced pandas and walruses.

unless otherwise noted, all images courtesy David Zwirner Gallery

 In case you were wondering what sculpted time looks like, now you know.

On Kawara, the conceptual artist and one of the few Japanese artists who are taught in Art History 101, is in town – he has a new exhibition at David Zwirner Gallery in New York. The show, which runs through February 11, 2012, primarily features Kawara’s series of Date Paintings, which he started in 1966. The minimal works consist of nothing but the date on which the painting was executed – a mark, or fragment if you will, of his existence on that particular day. If Kawara is unable to complete a painting during a single day it is destroyed. In case you were wondering what sculpted time looks like, now you know.

My personal experience in interacting with Kawara’s paintings has not been pleasant. Although visually they are as quiet as can be, I find them incredibly loud. As I stare at them I’m ironically assaulted by all the chaotic possibilities of that single day. I think if I stayed too long my head would explode.

While it would appear that stencils were used to achieve the uniformity seen in each work, every date was skillfully hand-painted – Kawara preferred it that way.  But his obsessive-compulsive behavior didn’t end there. He also methodically and meticulously recorded every painting in a journal, from a color swatch of the paint mixture he used to a year and a letter indicating its size.

a close-up of On Kawara’s journal, from the book “continuity/discontinuity, 1963-1979“

(thanks for the tip Masako!)
Source: David Zwirner | Tate | Gallery Micheline Szwajcer

all photos by Dominic Alves (installation view at ICN Gallery) | click to enlarge

What you’re looking are not actual goldfish preserved in some sort of embalming fluid. Instead, they are 3-dimensional fish that rise up from the surface through a process of: 1) a single layer of paint 2) a single layer of resin 3) repeat. (scroll to the bottom to see a video of the process)

The goldfish, writes Fukahori, was my salvation.

The goldfish holds a very special place in the heart of any child who’s ever been to a matsuri (street festival) in Japan. Kingyo-sukui is the game of “goldfish scooping” and is a staple of any summer street festival, along with the masks, water balloon yo-yos, fireworks and yummy food.

But for artist Riusuke Fukahori, the goldfish was not just a relic of long-lost childhood. As he painfully lay in his room one night, struggling and suffering, about to give up on his art, he looked over and saw a goldfish. His neglected fish of 7 years sputtered about in a cesspool of mold and feces – a common fate endured by most festival souvenirs.

Fukahori felt a shiver run down his spine. What he suddenly saw was a beautiful animal, glowing in bright red, living and surviving. The artist pulled out his paint and set to work, immediately triggering some sort of chemical reaction in his brain. Fukahori had looked far and wide – in Europe, the U.S. and Japan – for his muse. But in an instantaneous form of enlightenment he knew that all along it was right there in his room, inside that dirty fish tank. The goldfish, writes Fukahori, was my salvation.

And did you know, with a little help from the grammar gods, Kingyo-sukui (金魚すくい), the festivities of goldfish scooping, can also be read 金魚救い- goldfish salvation.

Source: colossal | theawesomer | Riusuke Fukahori

Late Friday evening in Japan artist Takashi Murakami took to the airwaves of twitter to vent about “Cool Japan” – the government’s campaign to promote modern Japanese culture abroad. And he proceeded to rip apart everyone involved as well, from artists and designers to ad agencies. Below are a selection of tweets, accompanied by Spoon & Tamago translations.

大手広告代理店の皆様！行政の皆様！告知です。村上に「クールジャパン」関連のイベントへの参加、インタヴュー、諸々のオファーはしないでください。村上隆は「クールジャパン」とは一切関係がありません。宜しくお願い致します。

— takashi murakami (@takashipom) January 6, 2012

Dear ad agencies and bureaucrats! Attention please. Stop inviting me to “Cool Japan” events, interviews or sending any kind of offers whatsoever. I have absolutely no connection to “Cool Japan.” Thank you.

「クールジャパン」で一儲けの広告代理店の仕掛けに乗ってく芸術家の気が知れん。（当人達の自由ではありますが、、、）

— takashi murakami (@takashipom) January 6, 2012

I can’t understand why artists get involved with the gimmicks of ad agencies who are simply trying to turn a profit with “Cool Japan” (of course they’re free to do what they like…)

ほんとうに「クールジャパン」予算、広告代理店に吸われるだけだから止めてほしい。どこぞの飯やで数名が乳繰り合う金が赤字の税からで照ると思うと腹が立って仕方が無いが、それを使う広告代理店が肩で風切ってクリエーター気取りなのがコレまた憎らしい。

— takashi murakami (@takashipom) January 6, 2012

I wish they would stop with this nonsense – the ad agencies are just milking the “Cool Japan” budget. It really pisses me off to think that a few individuals are in bed with each other, licking up the money that came out of our country’s deficit. And the ad agencies who strut about pretending to be creative disgusts me.

定期的にツィートしているが、俺は広告代理店が大嫌いです。だから関わらないようにしてください！

— takashi murakami (@takashipom) January 6, 2012

I tweet about this once in a while, but I hate ad agencies. Please don’t get involved with them.

Source: @takashipon

image courtesy hpgrp gallery | click to enlarge

What a fantastic shot by artist and photographer Katsuhiro Saiki. His new show “Resolution” just opened at hpgrp gallery in New York. It runs until January 28th. I know what my first show of the new year is going to be!

image courtesy the artist | click to enlarge

Here’s another great piece by the artist. “Double” is a photograph of a blue sky with a vapor trail of an aircraft. The vapor trail divides the picture into two as if it was a diptych. Below is a closeup shot.

source: @azito_art

This absurdly fantastic shot by photographer Yumiko Utsu is a great way to start the new year! And from the looks of it, 2012 is going to be a bright year for the eccentric artist who’s known for her kitschy use of food photography, combined with portraiture of humans and animals. With a book deal and several solo shows – both domestic and abroad – already behind her, she’ll be showing at Saatchi Gallery during 2012.

Here’s a look at some of her past work to get a sense of what we might expect from the show:

“Ricky” | hercules beetle larva and  coral

“Mold Dive” (2008) | toy bear and molded tea

“Cat Food Mandala” (2005)

“Shirako Baby” (2005) | fyi – Shirako is basically fish sperm

Source: Saatchi Gallery

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Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, with the help of some little helpers, has taken her iconic dots to a whole new level.

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As part of her exhibition “Look Now, See Forever,” showing at The Queensland Art Gallery (Australia) through March 11, 2012, Yayoi Kusama has created an installation titled The Obliteration Room. After creating what was essentially a blank canvas of white chairs, tables and sofa, the eccentric artist invited children visiting the museum to collaborate with her by giving them thousands of colored dot stickers and granting them artistic freedom to do what they like with them. The results are, well, pretty obliterating.

photos courtesy GOMA, HeyBubbles, Stupie
Source: Colossal

images courtesy masahiro minami | click to enlarge

This adorable DIY project for kids comes courtesy of my friend Masahiro Minami, who, along with his students at the University of Shiga Prefecture, came up with the idea and executed it over the weekend at a workshop.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Rocks – preferably smooth and flat as they’ll serve as the based for the tree
• Pinecones
• Ornaments – necklace beads are perfect but any small things (lego pieces, glitter, rhinestones or buttons) would work.
• Paint and paintbrushes
• Glue gun

First, go out and pick some pinecones and find some rocks. Then come home and decorate them. You can paint the pinecone, use glue to attach ornaments, or both. If you like, go ahead and paint your rock as well!

Once it’s decorated, use a glue gun and dab some glue to the bottom of the pinecone. Then place it onto the rock. Hold in place until the glue dries (about 2 min).

And that’s really all there is to it. Now you have your very own miniature Christmas tree!

It’s a simple, fun activity that can help kids realize and appreciate the wonderful small things that are often right under our feet – we just need to look for them.