Hey Ren, So I think your artists is one of the more challenging, because his vocabulary of shapes and materials is quite consistent: you've got the 'dango' shapes, you've got the Tanuki statues (Racoon-like shapeshifters popular in Japanese folklore) and you've got his work with glass. I think the approach to really nailing this project is to get to grips with something conceptual about the artist's values in quite a practical way, and also really think about looking to real world architecture for the courage to move past the range of objects you're presented with here.
On his site, there is this information about his commitment to arts education and 'giving back to the community' - he's an immigrant from Japan working in Omaha, USA: http://www.junkaneko.com/jun-kaneko/kaneko/
Obviously then, public art, and art as restorative and community are all important things to him, so if, for example, you and he were commissioned to design a special sort of building together, what sort of building might it be? For example...
https://www.dezeen.com/architecture/cultural/
(it is often the case that when cities commission buildings that are 'art and culture hubs', the buildings themselves tend to be pretty special and 'statement'.)
I think you also need to look at architectural stuff that shares those same 'dumpling' qualities of your artist's statement sculptures - for example:
So my advice is take a small step back and go a bit more 'real world'; you have to imagine that you and your artist are working together to create an environment that captures the personality and preoccupations of the artist (so special buildings with specific functions that mirror his interests/ideas), but you're also working together as 'architects and space-planners' wherein the essence of the artist's work/methods is taken up, re-purposed and transmitted through the new and extraordinary structures; those translations don't have to be literal or 'like for like'. It's pretty clear that Kaneko's city would be calming, playful and welcoming, with an emphasis on community - is there a special bit of that city you can imagine designing for him?
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OGR 02/11/2018
ReplyDeleteHey Ren, So I think your artists is one of the more challenging, because his vocabulary of shapes and materials is quite consistent: you've got the 'dango' shapes, you've got the Tanuki statues (Racoon-like shapeshifters popular in Japanese folklore) and you've got his work with glass. I think the approach to really nailing this project is to get to grips with something conceptual about the artist's values in quite a practical way, and also really think about looking to real world architecture for the courage to move past the range of objects you're presented with here.
On his site, there is this information about his commitment to arts education and 'giving back to the community' - he's an immigrant from Japan working in Omaha, USA: http://www.junkaneko.com/jun-kaneko/kaneko/
Obviously then, public art, and art as restorative and community are all important things to him, so if, for example, you and he were commissioned to design a special sort of building together, what sort of building might it be? For example...
https://www.dezeen.com/architecture/cultural/
(it is often the case that when cities commission buildings that are 'art and culture hubs', the buildings themselves tend to be pretty special and 'statement'.)
I think you also need to look at architectural stuff that shares those same 'dumpling' qualities of your artist's statement sculptures - for example:
http://www.surfacesreporter.com/articles/20768/pebble-inspired-architecture
https://www.archdaily.com/794364/aedas-pebble-inspired-le-architecture-in-taipei-nears-completion
https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/blogs/sky-high-horticulture-shenzhens-farmscraper-plan-unveiled
http://www.evolo.us/batumi-aquarium-henning-larsen-architects/
The other aspect is the coloured glass...
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/most-colorful-glass-buildings-slideshow/all
So my advice is take a small step back and go a bit more 'real world'; you have to imagine that you and your artist are working together to create an environment that captures the personality and preoccupations of the artist (so special buildings with specific functions that mirror his interests/ideas), but you're also working together as 'architects and space-planners' wherein the essence of the artist's work/methods is taken up, re-purposed and transmitted through the new and extraordinary structures; those translations don't have to be literal or 'like for like'. It's pretty clear that Kaneko's city would be calming, playful and welcoming, with an emphasis on community - is there a special bit of that city you can imagine designing for him?