OSAKA — Golden human statues appeared in an underground street in Osaka’s Umeda district on Aug. 18 to raise awareness about how remaining in the same posture for long periods can lead to shoulder pain and other issues.
The exhibition “Chokoku na Shisei Ten” — a pun on the Japanese words “chokoku” (sculpture) and “cho koku” (super tough) — began in the underground passage in front of Osaka Station in the city’s Kita Ward. It features performers who paint their faces and costumes to mimic statues or sculptures. Additional performances are scheduled for Aug. 23 and 24.
The exhibition promotes pain relief medications from the pharmaceutical company SSP Co., highlighting they not only alleviate headaches and menstrual pain but also shoulder pain. The statue performers re-create everyday postures that contribute to shoulder pain, such as using smartphones while commuting and doing desk work, while others include sitting on the ground to watch fireworks and standing over grills to make “takoyaki” octopus balls — a well-known Osaka street food. When visitors insert coins into a nearby box, the performers come to life, rotating their shoulders or stretching.
Statue performances like these are a form of street art said to have originated in France and are a familiar sight in tourist areas across Europe and the United States. The event features five professional statue performers, mainly from western Japan’s Kansai region. Passersby were surprised by the sudden movements of the performers, often smiling and taking photos with their smartphones.
The event will be held four times each on Aug. 23 and 24, with each session lasting one hour.
(Japanese original and video by Takao Kitamura, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
AloJapan.com