Artefacts design series — Tetsumi Kudo
Artefacts design series – Tetsumi Kudo
2021
Ceramics, paper, sticker, Risograph print on paper, Screen Print on paper and mirror
陶瓷、紙、貼紙、孔版印刷、絲網印刷
Size variable
Tetsumi Kudo is an artist focused on environmental problems and predict the future world with his surreal approaches.
1: A set of 6 postcard designs
2: Ceramic mug design
3: Screenprint prints, edition of 15
4: Calender design
5: Mirror monoprint, edition of 1
1. A set of 6 postcard designs
Dice and neon artificial colours show the randomness to the environment of humans, environment destruction, contamination, the status of humans, nature, and technology.
Behind each sticker, there is one secret about the environmental problems that we faced through the years. Also, there is one 2022 prediction in each postcard, so as to alert audiences about the seriousness of nature problems, like what Tetsumi Kudo was always doing: predict the appearances of the future environment and create a sense of surreal and scary.
After writing messages and reflections about the environmental problems, then send them to others, so as to transfer my 2022 prediction and the secrets to more people.
2. Ceramic mug design
I am trying to mix and match a modern mug with a hand that always appears in Tetsumi Kudo's artworks, to convey the catastrophic effects created by the nuclear bomb and also the other pollution that is already affecting our daily lives. Seems like the water we drink from this mug is already polluted.
I also use the neon artificial colours as a key visual in this mug, so as to show the strange and unnatural feeling. Although we are using the mug made of clay, which is supposed to come from soil (part of the environment). However, the colour of it also becomes weird, reflecting we are contaminated.
When people drink with this mug, they will hold Tetsumi Kudo's hand, like people are feeling what Kudo is feeling at the moment.
3. Print
Utopia
Screenprint on paper
6 layers
Edition of 15
This is a print for predicting the future environment.
In Kudo's work, he always predicts the future Earth is, and also shows us the idea that the utopia will be destroyed by humans.
For me, in the future of Hong Kong, the new generation will be destroyed by the previous contamination and pollution. Therefore, the baby screams with a scary face and with a pair of blue strange eyes open, depicting the new utopia is coming. The utopia is so artificial, surreal, and a bad place for human living.
4. Calender Design
This is a calendar that predicts the future of 2022 and after.
Humans will be controlled by technology. Kudo always reminds us about the idea of electrification, the status of technology is a lot higher than humans, which means humans are controlled and unable to extricate themselves from technology.
In this calendar, the dates are disappearing month by month, until December, when all dates are gone
and a QR code appears. This reveals we are not affected by the changes in printed matters, the value of them is useless. When we take the action of scanning a QR code, it already conveys we are getting into the electrification world and never getting back to the old times.