Jesse James
The Brooklyn-based Japanese artist Tomokazu Matsuyama is back in the news. The artist has taken over Tokyo’s JR Shinjuku Station with a monumental sculpture called Hanao-San. This stunning work of art stands 26 feet tall and depicts a boy standing within a colorful community art park. The sculpture is a centerpiece that welcomes 3.5 million passengers each day.
The public art project was a collaborative effort between Matsuyama and East Japan Railway Company (JR), providing a timeless visual and spatial experience. The graphic art that encloses the boy blends the four seasons of ancient Japanese culture. However, there is also a nod and influence from contemporary art that is undeniable.
Images of flowers sprawled across different blocks of color provide a unique representation of global change. The moving images reflected in the sculpture’s mirrored surface show constant movement and evolution, representing our urban life. The project is located right outside of the station at Shinjuku East Square, serving as a unique welcoming gesture in the process.
Take a closer look at this incredible sculpture, Hanao-San, in the images below and find out more from Tomokazu Matsuyama. In the meantime, keep it locked with The Culture Curators for more from the art department coming very soon.
Photos via Tomokazu Matsuyama
