Text by Alex
Art truly comes from life. On Miyagi Island in Uruma City, Okinawa, an artisan has woven a dragon from palm leaves that is incredibly lifelike. Nestled near residential homes, the dragon often gives unsuspecting passersby a fright. Notably, the dragon is situated on a small hill, and when the wind blows, the palm leaves sway and rustle, creating the illusion that the dragon is actually moving.
▲(photo by oogomadara @Twitter)
▲(photo by uruma.shimadakara.art @FB)
The dragon was created by folk artist Ayako for a local arts and cultural festival, and is titled "Ryugu Castle." According to Japanese folklore, the sea is governed by the Dragon King, who resides in an underwater Dragon Palace. A similar backstory is also featured in the Japanese folktale "Urashima Taro."
▲(photo by uruma.shimadakara.art @FB)
▲(photo by oogomadara @Twitter)
Using natural resources for artistic creation, there's another great example. Every year, the harvest festival in Chikuzen Town, Fukuoka, celebrates the bountiful harvest, with its highlight being massive scarecrows made from harvested straw: in 2016, there was a 7-meter-tall Godzilla, and this year, the battleship Yamato makes an appearance.
▲(photo by chirorin.t @IG)
▲(photo by kurage52natsu21 @Twitter)
Farmers first construct a frame using wood and bamboo, then cover it with straw to build a gigantic battleship measuring 16.6 meters long, 3 meters wide, and 4.8 meters high. Although the festival is held in early November, the Yamato will remain on the open square next to the Anziri Park Interactive Rural Experience until mid-January of next year.
▲(photo by d9e4a5ad6dae448 @Twitter)
▲(photo by seri0099 @Twitter)
▲(photo by d9e4a5ad6dae448 @Twitter)
▲(photo by gata_o_gata @Twitter)
▲(photo by d9e4a5ad6dae448 @Twitter)
▲(photo by yokoyoko248 @IG)
Source: Grapee, Design You Trust