Ultra Tower

2021

SHŌEI
1 min readJul 20, 2022

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During the prolonged state of emergency due to COVID-19, many online exhibitions were held. However, Matsuda planned an offline exhibition that anyone could participate in remotely. This was inspired by a game played by an Instagram user living abroad, which involved creating and admiring their own “Ultra Tower” from home. The artwork was created simply by stacking empty cans, and its value was determined by the number of points obtained through rules similar to a simple game.

Vipassana meditation is known as a practice of quickly dispelling distracting thoughts and returning to the breath. It can help develop concentration without being disturbed by the daily overload of information, and helps maintain a sense of calm. Matsuda suggests that even mundane play in daily life can be a tool for enhancing one’s mental state. Ultimately, the cans stacked to heights that would not normally be achieved were displayed in the BnA Alter Museum in Kyoto.

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SHŌEI

Shōei Matsuda 松田将英 is a Japanese conceptual artist.