yukihiro kaneuchi: sand vase

‘sand’ by yukihiro kaneuchi

japanese designer yukihiro kaneuchi‘s latest project draws on bou-toshi, a game most played by those enrolled in the national defense academy of japan in which two teams (composed of 150 players each – 75 defense, 75 offense) compete to gain control over a single large pole. the activity involves individuals making a heap of sand in which they place a pole in the centre. each player takes turns removing sand, and the one who causes the pole to fall loses. there is also a version that is played by children in the sand box.

kaneuchi has created a series of vases based on the rules and elements of this game that has been played for centuries. entitled ‘sand’ a set of three vessels emulate the heap of the granular composite built-up around the ‘pole’, which in this case is a glass tube. here the sand formation nears collapse, bringing a tension and beauty to the flowers contained within.

small and medium sized vases

large and small sized vases

‘sand’

up close of the sand and resin composite which makes up the vase