| Koichiro Tsujikawa created Eyes for the Big Idea. This perfect, one-minute movie employs minimalism to beautiful effect. It simplifies The Big Idea. In our interview he gives us an insight into the contrast between the busy and the minimal in Japanese culture.
"In Japan we have 'kanji' a script that may be more interesting compared to English.
They are based on hieroglyphics and come from simplifying or abstracting pictures. You can often see traces of the original pictogram in the character.
"For example in one character one can find several meanings. So in one advertisement sign, there is a lot of information. Don't you think they are cute as letters? Kawaii (cute). The character of bird looks a little like a bird. They really have a cute appearance. It's really interesting, right? And fun for the Japanese to be able to use these characters.
"It's part of our culture. We have a lot of 'zattana' things (busy, crowded, a lot of things squeezed into a small space). It's a side of Japan we Japanese feel as unattractive. There is a much more sophisticated side, like what you will see if you go to a traditional soba (noodle) shop.
"Japanese culture has a lot of simple things. There is a busy, crowded and hectic side to the culture but on the other hand there is the aspect of Wabi-Sabi, where the Japanese pay attention to the slightest changes of
all things." |
