If Star Wars franchise existed during medieval / early-modern Japan, this is what some of the characters might have looked like. Called “The Rhythm Project”, this installation combines centuries-old craft with pop culture icons, fusing Darth Vader, R2-D2, etc. with the art of Japanese woodblock printing. It re-imagines the films’ scenes in the style of ukioy-e, a popular Edo-era genre depicting the likes of kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, shogun and landscapes. Continue reading for a video and more information.
“The cultural mashup features famous scenes, including Darth Vader brandishing a lightsaber and the epic battle on Hoth. Each piece was hand-carved by a wood sculptor and a separate block created for every color in the print. Afterwards, another craftsman combined all of the blocks onto paper. Rhythm Project produced a total of 600 limited edition prints, 200 of each composition,” according to My Modern Met.
