KOHEI NAWA

We are pleased to announce the unveil of a new public sculpture, “Uncle Red,” by Kohei Nawa in Ebisu East Park (commonly known as “Tako Park”) in Tokyo’s Ebisu district. This sculpture is featured as a part of the Shibuya Ward’s “Shibuya Arrow Project”—an initiative aimed at raising awareness of designated temporary evacuation areas during disasters.

Titled “Uncle Red,” the sculpture combines elements from Nawa’s acclaimed “Ether” series with a human figure gazing upward. The piece emerged from Nawa’s 2024 collaboration with legendary dancer Min Tanaka, which culminated in the performance work “From the Edge”. The sculpture’s striking red hue—both a universal signal of danger and the color of the mud that enveloped Tanaka’s body during the performance—embodies a raw, defiant energy in the face of adversity.

The location of the work further deepens its resonance. Ebisu East Park features prominently in Wim Wenders’ film Perfect Days, in which Min Tanaka appears. The park's iconic “Squid Toilet,” designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, is a location visited by the film’s protagonist Hirayama during his daily cleaning route—adding yet another layer of thematic harmony between site and sculpture.

Installed atop the stone wall at the park’s entrance, “Uncle Red” injects renewed vitality into the urban landscape, directing the viewer’s gaze upward—beyond the surrounding buildings and into the open sky. In spring, the sculpture will stand in vivid contrast with the park’s cherry blossoms, creating a dynamic visual dialogue.

Venue: Ebisu East Park
1-2-16 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013, Japan

 

photo: Nobutada OMOTE

 

Uncle Red