Train with eyes 2005

Editor: So, here we have Tadanori Yokoo's "Train with Eyes" from 2005. It's a mixed-media piece, essentially graffiti art or maybe public art applied to a train. It definitely jumps out – all those colors and eyes! I’m curious about what others see when they look at this. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the artist's use of the eye motif. Think about its historical weight – the eye as a window to the soul, a symbol of surveillance, or even divine omniscience. Yokoo layers these cultural associations onto something as mundane as a commuter train. It forces us to consider: who is watching whom, and what does it mean to be seen in a hyper-modern, public space? Editor: That's fascinating. I was mostly thinking about the chaotic, almost psychedelic feel of the colours, combined with the kind of unsettling effect of all those eyes staring out. Curator: Exactly! The psychedelic colours contribute to this feeling of unease. Do they perhaps evoke the disorientation of modern life, of being bombarded with images and information? And the eyes, fragmented and repeated, could be a reflection on identity and how it is constructed and perceived in this modern landscape. Does it speak to Japanese anxieties around tradition versus modernity? Editor: It’s interesting how you bring in the cultural and historical context. I hadn’t really considered the symbolism of the eye beyond its immediate visual impact. I was focused on the colours and geometry clashing. Curator: Yes, and that clash is important. Yokoo often juxtaposes seemingly disparate elements to create new meaning. By putting these ancient symbols into this modern context, Yokoo opens it all to interpretation. Editor: This makes me see street art differently. It’s not just decoration; it is communicating something deeper. Curator: Precisely. The artwork becomes a mobile cultural artifact. Food for thought for your next commute, perhaps!