Shadow Art: Kumi Yamashita
Shadow art is some very cool stuff that takes meticulous planning (though I really have no real inkling how it is done) and involves objects and light to create its effect. Apparently, the artist Kumi Yamashita sets up various objects whose cast shadows on the wall transform into figures of people and faces.
The multi-coloured Fragments, made up of 40 objects that cast facial images of New Mexico people, is striking. It draws me in with its colour first (in a daydreamy, yet in-your-face kinda way—no pun intended) and then keeps my interest with the assortment of faces I find within it.
Clouds is really my favourite, though I can’t even explain why. The figures have this odd stance; they’re leaning into each other but I’m not sure why (rainstorm and they’re hiding under their odd umbrella? Inability to keep from smooshing together for three seconds?) I feel (though I don’t know) that they are smiling at me, that they are really happy people.
Lovers doesn’t appeal to me at all. The crude figures give me no pleasure and they don’t look to be lovers to me (now, the Clouds people, they look like lovers.) They seem to be running stiffly away into the sunset together. If it says anything for their love, at least they’re going in the same direction.
