Kenji Yanobe
Encyclopedia
Japanese artist Kenji Yanobe (ヤノベケンジ Yanobe Kenji) is famous for his upbeat yet nightmarish artwork. His sculpture simulates consumer products designed for survival after a nuclear holocaust
.
ese consumer aesthetic. His pieces, often based on robot
s, appear to be the products of the most modern industrial design: bright colors, polished metal, articulable joints, and shiny finish. However, they betray a fear of nuclear war. Yanobe's artwork includes brightly-colored hazmat suit
s and tiny action figures with built-in geiger counters
. They pose the question: Would life after a nuclear war be possible, and if it were, would it be worth living?
Kenji Yanobe has had art shows throughout the world, including the United States, Europe, and his native Japan. His artwork was displayed at the grounds of the 1970 World's Fair
in Osaka
, Japan. It was the last show there before the site was taken down in March 2004.
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
.
Artwork
Yanobe's sculpture closely fits a modern JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese consumer aesthetic. His pieces, often based on robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s, appear to be the products of the most modern industrial design: bright colors, polished metal, articulable joints, and shiny finish. However, they betray a fear of nuclear war. Yanobe's artwork includes brightly-colored hazmat suit
Hazmat suit
A hazmat suit is a garment worn as protection from hazardous materials or substances. A hazmat suit is generally combined with breathing apparatus for protection and may be used by firefighters, emergency personnel responding to toxic spills, researchers, specialists cleaning up contaminated...
s and tiny action figures with built-in geiger counters
Geiger counter
A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger–Müller counter, is a type of particle detector that measures ionizing radiation. They detect the emission of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles or gamma rays. A Geiger counter detects radiation by ionization produced in a low-pressure gas in a...
. They pose the question: Would life after a nuclear war be possible, and if it were, would it be worth living?
Kenji Yanobe has had art shows throughout the world, including the United States, Europe, and his native Japan. His artwork was displayed at the grounds of the 1970 World's Fair
Expo '70
was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan. It was the last show there before the site was taken down in March 2004.
External links
- Kenji Yanobe's official website
- Interview with Kenji Yanobe in Giant Robot magazine.
- Biography ExhibitionCV of Kenji Yanobe on Azito (online gallery of Japanese Contemporary art).