Giuliano Vangi's Grand Story at the Hakone Open Air Museum

One of the many sculptures that I really enjoyed at the Hakone Open Air Museum was 'Grande Racconto" (or 'Grand Story') by Giuliano Vangi.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec.

On the Highline

After a delicious and farm fresh breakfast at the Chelsea Creamline, we took a short walk and met friends on The Highline. Although it was crowded, it lived up to all the hype. What a magnificent use of urban space! The gardens were in full summer bloom and the art installations were whimsical, fun and modern. It was an amazing beautiful space.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/160 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Rodin's Thinker at the Cleveland Museum of Art

In June the family visited relatives living near Cleveland, Ohio and visited the Cleveland Museum of Art. Although it was a hot summer day, we wandered outside and enjoyed the gardens and sculptures surrounding the museum. Of special interest was Rodin's Thinker. It has a prominent position at the south entrance overlooking the a garden, Chester Beach's Fountain of the Waters and the Wade Lagoon. In 1970, this piece was sadly vandalized damaging the lower half of the sculpture.

You may think that this has nothing to do with Tokyo, but it does. Seems that there is quite an impressive Rodin sculpture collection including "The Thinker" at the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo and my macabre favorite, "The Gates of Hell".

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec. (The EXIF data is suspect... I may have forgot to change the camera settings for the lens. :-(

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/400 sec. (The EXIF data is suspect... I may have forgot to change the camera settings for the lens. :-(

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec. (The EXIF data is suspect... I may have forgot to change the camera settings for the lens. :-(

Seems that Shikoku is Awa Odori Crazy (Part 4 - One More)

So I lied about the last Awa Odori post being the last... Oh well, here are some more photographic evidence that Tokushima is Awa Odori crazy. These were all taken at the airport, so if you thought that you might escape the madness by leaving the city center, you are wrong.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f8.0, ISO 800, 1/60 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

281_Anti nuke spotted in Harajuku

During the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Harajuku this year, I spotted another new piece of protest street art from 281_Anti nuke along Omotesando in Harajuku. In light of the recent news of the drone landing on the Prime Minister's office, this protest art is even more important. Hopefully, it does more to raise awareness, spark dialog and constructive discussion of a important issues.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

New Street Art from 281_Anti nuke

In January, I spotted new street art from 281_Anti nuke near the Hachiko Statue and Shibuya Crossing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/1600 sec.

Street Art in Shibuya

In August on my walk through Shibuya, I spotted some street art from 281_Anti nuke. These pieces seem to pop out of the graffiti, posters and stickers in busier parts of the city. The big difference is the subtle political message and frustration regarding the current state of apathy regarding the Fukushima disaster and politics in Japan. It's very Bansky-eske and difficult for me to ignore. I hope that this art can lead to open and constructive dialog between artists, political activists, environmentalists and ordinary people. There are some great articles on this art in the New Yorker and the Japan Times.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Tarō Okamoto

I've come across several public art pieces in Tokyo by Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto.  The first piece is located in Ginza and is called "Young Clock Tower".  The other piece is located near the Children's Castle in Harajuku and is called "Children's Tree".

Somebody is watching me

Several months ago I passed this floor to ceiling sculpture / glass art installation in Shinjuku Station.  I really liked it, but had the erie feeling that someone was watching me.... and perhaps the 3.64 million people per day that pass through this station. 

According to Tokyo Metblogs this installation is by the artist Miyashita Yoshiko and has been at the west exit of Shinjuku station since 1969.