Japanese public sculpture design

Author: Hu Jianbin, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Public sculpture and public signage have different functions and roles. The function of public sculpture is to organize and arrange landscapes and aesthetics, while public signage has various single functions such as indicating, guiding, and directing. This series of "Contemporary Japanese Design Art" also introduces many inspiring design works that harmoniously unify landscapes and aesthetics in squares and streets. Examples include shop signs, billboards, and layout and advertising design in graphic design. Within the scope of public spaces, public sculpture also reflects its aesthetic function and can reveal the creativity and purpose of each sculpture. In this way, designers can carry out their design and creation clearly and consciously. Similarly, visual communication design is no exception. The works introduced by the series' editor-in-chief, Mr. Hu Jianbin, all embody their respective functions and form beautiful landscapes in public spaces such as streets and squares. From this perspective, they also play a common role. The design quality of the sculptures and billboards included in the book is not judged solely based on individual works but must be evaluated from a public perspective. While each piece expresses a concept, it must also be presented, coordinated, and combined from a higher level—the level of understanding public spaces. Therefore, this perspective should be used to analyze and evaluate the works.
Japan began its economic growth in the 1960s and continued for about 30 years, but by the 1990s, it experienced a bubble economy. After the bubble burst in the 1990s, the economy remained stagnant for 15 years. During the period of bubble inflation, a large number of public sculptures, street public facilities, and store advertisements emerged, all products of the bubble economy. The production costs at that time were several times higher than during the current economic downturn. To attract attention, many sculptures became and unconventional, ending the era where traditional sculptures dominated and bringing about a change in the times. Alongside the collapse of the bubble economy, a rapidly developing industry emerged. This was a revolution that transformed the visual representation of public landscapes. In cities like Beijing and Shanghai in China, one can see numerous advertisements on bus exteriors, a similar trend also observed in shop signs. While Japan introduced vehicle advertisements during an economic downturn, Beijing and Shanghai did so during a period of rapid economic growth. In terms of quantity, China appears to be the winner. I believe that Chinese public design will continue to develop in the future.