mymodernmet.com: Nestled in the Japanese Alps, Omachi City has a unique relationship with water. In the winters, the shrinking city is blanketed with thick snow, while its summers are wet with heavy rain. It also boasts winding rivers, stunning mountainside lakes, and hot springs. The city’s natural surroundings have inspired a striking, site-specific installation composed of 14,000 prescription lenses.
5 comments:
I personally really enjoy this Immersive installation because it both emotionally and physically connects its audience to the environment around it. Being placed outside within the environment that it is trying to display allows for a deeper connection with the viewer. I also thought it was particularly interesting that the installation takes into account what makes people look more deeply at an object. The glass circles are different prescription lenses showing a different warped form of nature in each one. The fact that people will take the time to inspect each individual view of something they see every day says something about how humans function. Sometimes it only takes one small change of view to see a completely different story. Also looking as things from a new point of view means that people are more willing to spend a longer amount of time on the subject rather than only giving it a glimpse.
Looking at the pictures of this installation makes me wish I would visit Japan to have seen it. When first looking at the pictures from far away it really did remind me of raindrops, and looked beautiful the way it reflected the sun and colors of the trees. When looking at the closer pictures I was reminded of water hitting a car window when it's pouring, where you can just see the color of what is outside the window. The concept of the piece being made form prescription lenses, sometimes the only way a person can see the world and its natural beauty was very moving to me. I'm curious where the lenses came from, maybe from donations, or collected from optometrist, or if they were created for the piece. I also wonder if they were arranged in a certain way based on strength or in a random placement. There is also something to be said about having sections of the piece that distort the world more because the lenses are a stronger prescription and thus show how people with stronger prescriptions depend more heavily on these things to see.
Using non-traditional spaces is always an intriguing idea. When we talk about theatre or space art, we often imagine a contained area, like a cube, where every dimension is sealed. However, we sometimes forget that we are already in an existing space, regardless of where we are standing. This perspective encourages us to think outside the box and explore various venue possibilities. I am particularly fascinated by how this concept connects closely to nature. I have learned that some theater productions use coastlines or forests as their venues, allowing audiences to become immersed in breathtaking natural scenes. When a script mentions a sunset, for instance, no lighting or set design can replicate the impact of a real sunset unfolding before your eyes. This approach not only enhances the authenticity of the experience but also deepens the emotional connection between the audience and the performance. Embracing unconventional spaces pushes creative boundaries and invites new interpretations of storytelling.
This is a fascinating piece. It looks stunning, and the piece and its environment compliment each other very well. I love how it changes the way that a viewer will see the world they are in and the people around them. Given the scale of the project, it sounds like someone could spend a lot of time exploring this piece. I think the ability to walk into the center of the circles adds another dimension of depth and perspective for the viewer. I was left wondering how the installation sounds; for example, does it jingle or chime when the wind blows? I think most prescription lenses today are plastic, so it may not make too much noise. I think we can all appreciate the greener side of this piece, giving a beautiful second life to these lenses. Aside from that, the construction of the piece itself looks painstakingly precise. I’d be interested to learn more about how the piece was constructed.
This installation is beautiful using prescription lenses to create what appears to be thousands of landscaped trapped in tiny bubbles is a wonderfully creative way of repurposing discarded Items. With this installation being supported by Japan's government I am curious why a canadian team of artists was picked to design this installation. I also wonder why the artists didn't pick some of Canada's beautiful landscapes especially considering the lenses were provided by a Canadian charity. This project is 1000% giving line and form and it's incredible to see something that is so similar to an iconic project all students experience out in the "real world". I love this installations combination of natural and manmade elements and how the suspension system blends into the surrounding forest. I am curious what the maintenance looks like as I imagine all of those strings easily getting tangled. If I was traveling to Japan I would definitely mark this installation as something I had to visit.
Post a Comment