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About the project
Japanese prefecture flags are famous around the world for their ability to make modern designs built upon traditional patterns and the local community.
These simple yet empowering designs, to me, are very intriguing. This led me to work on sculptures that capture the beauty of their simplicity, as well as include features that make these prefectures unique.
Wikipedia Images (2022). Flag Map of Japanese Prefectures. Wikimedia Commons. Available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Flag_Map_of_Japanese_Prefectures.png
The Vision
There are many options could be chosen; however, I thought I should choose to do prefectures based on their past and or my personal connection. This led me to choose the following. My vision is to make one for every prefecture in the future
Iwate Prefecture flag. Iwate is in the northern part of the Honshu Island, known for its untouched beauty and UNESCO sights.
Hiroshima Prefecture flag. Hiroshima is known for the dropping of the atomic bomb and its stance built around reflection and peace
Tottori Prefecture flag. Tottori is in the south of the island of Honshu, known for its nashi pear and the sandunes unique to the prefecture.
Context
Having been to Iwate, I find that the prefecture isn't well known outside of Japan. Iwate is known for being very naturally astounding, with many UNESCO sites, while also being known for being very cold.
Iwate also has a strong Samurai history, being one known for its iron production, which I wanted to include due to its significance to medieval Japan.
Iwate
First design
Iwate gets really cold, with a lot of its identity built around its skiing industry and importance in local culture.
I wanted to emulate this by having a sharp, crystal-like structure that has further cuts and depth to represent the intricate craftsmanship found in Iwate.
This is why it does not have much curvature.
Final design
My final additions to the scuplture is tecture. I wanted to use a mixture of glass and steel to represent the characteristics present of the prefecture and its identity. The pillars throughout use glass to not only represent the transparency found in snow, but also to allow views to be able to observe the landscape around it. The use of steel represents the metal works of Iwate prefecture but also gives a central frame of mine.
Context
Hiroshima will always be marked by the dropping of the nuclear bomb in 1945, which led to the end of WWII. Now a symbol against the use of nuclear weapons as well as Japanese modern pacifism, Hiroshima will always be remembered in that light.
When designing a monument for Hiroshima, I wanted to create a sense of reflection. I'd rely on two pieces of inspiration, the first being of course the flag emblem for which I'd use the curve to force an individual into looking at themselves. The second would we of Spomenik architecture from Yugoslavia which focuses on the deep human emotion that anyone can sympathise with rather then a specific feeling felt by a single group.
Put simply by designer Vojin Bakić, Spomeniks are a "pure poetic conquest of a space", which find not only inspiring but deeply reflective of the pain they represent as well as the hope for the future.
Hiroshima
First design
I used the symbol ( a stylised 'ヒ') flag as a base that would create a mound upwards inreference to the Chugoku mountain while also adding a slope that water could run as reference to the Ōta river.
The naturally enclosed shape was made to force the individual to reflect within themselves creating an uncomfortable sense of reflection
Final design
I wanted to use mirrors in this designs to add to the sense of reflection whith mat finish on the top and on the bottom lined. The red used is not a final feature but is to show where the base is.
Context
Being the smallest prefecture, tottori is not well known by many outside Japan. Tottori however is the home of my grandmother for which I have always been intrigued in its identity.
It is known for its crab fishing and Nashi pear but is famous for being the only part of Japan that has sand dunes. Which is what I wanted to capture the most.
This would lead me to pair the sand dune aspect with the coastal location of Tottori
Tottori
First design
I wanted to make the bird iconography the main focus with the bend making a flutter effect. I also wanted to make a curved look which represents both the sand dunes and the waves from the coast of Tottori.
I first went for a taller design while having smooth edges. With a metallic finish, glass highlights and slits to allow sun through into the middle. However, I found that its imposing shape deviated too much from the vision I had.
Final Design
I first went for a flatter design with thicker bezels, while keeping the mix of curve and blunted corners. the filleted parts were also deeper to make a more natural finish to the top.
This created a paper look, which had me reevaluate my vision for the project and had me switch to maple tree timber while keeping the glass. This created a sandy look from afar while making a wooden carving feel when up close.
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