That's something you don't see every day...

[mbarker]

First, like many cities, Osaka has some sculpture out on the roadways. In particular, there are some dancing young women on the sidewalk downtown. Just sort of cheerful random art.

However, this morning's puzzling news is that someone apparently put red dresses on these women sometime last wee. The picture I saw wasn't very clear -- I think they may have been paper -- but the question is who did it and what does it mean? Actually, apparently no one is too interested in who did it. There's just a puzzlement as to what is it supposed to mean.

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/07/27/osaka-mystery-lady-sculptures-in-red/ has more about it, including pictures! Apparently the dresses were cloth.

I guess someone was bored one night. And decided putting clothes on the statues was something to do?

I wonder if anyone will note the irony of public officials undressing the statues right out there in public?

Comments

[dialyn.livejournal.com]

There is a sculpture in Cardiff that regularly gets decorated (he's been a clown, attacked by a shark, dressed for Halloween). The sculpture is of such a wimpy looking surfer that it has been disparaged from the moment it was put up, but it also seems to have inspired ongoing creativity: http://www.thecardiffkook.org/blog/blog/

Apparently the decoration of public art has become a form of expression. There is a group of "yarn bombers" who crochet their graffiti: http://www.npr.org/2011/04/25/135705721/crochet-vandals-do-graffiti-like-your-grandma

Maybe the idea is less profound than an effort to introduce color into an urban setting. Or that there are people with lots of time on their hands.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I think such spontaneous additions should be celebrated. Someone looked at it and thought about it and spent some time adding something. That's not bad! As you say, a little color, a way to spend the time, maybe make a few people smile... Sounds good to me. Thanks. Crocheted graffiti? I hadn't heard about that.