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Deep underground, as you step onto the platform of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, an overwhelming world of iron unfolds before your eyes. The art piece “Fossil of 20th Century Civilization,” which spreads across the entire wall, captivates visitors like a ruin transcending time and space.
This work was created in 2000 by sculptor Shoichiro Higuchi. By reusing industrial product scraps produced during the period of rapid economic growth in Koto Ward, it was reborn as an artwork symbolizing the city’s history and regeneration. Nails, chains, gears, and other parts that once supported industry form geometric patterns, simultaneously conveying the coldness and strength of iron. (at-art.jp)
The platform wall consists of 164 panels, each designed with a different layout. On these panels, scraps carefully selected by Higuchi are attached with bolts and welding, weaving a narrative of the city’s evolution and regeneration. The work depicts a story that begins with the Big Bang, followed by the formation of the solar system, the birth of the Japanese archipelago, the development of Tokyo and the Koto area, the birth of the subway, and the regeneration of the city. (at-art.jp)
This art creates an iron space reminiscent of the film “Tetsuo: The Iron Man,” leaving a strong impression on visitors. The everyday space of the subway platform is transformed into an extraordinary place through iron art, becoming a site that prompts reflection on the city’s history and future. (at-art.jp)
Standing on the platform of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, you can feel the coldness and weight of iron on your skin, sensing the pulse of the city. This place is a point where past and future intersect, evoking deep emotions in visitors. This art, symbolizing the city’s history and regeneration, allows us to sense the extraordinary hidden within the everyday and questions us about the nature of the city.