honorable mention
Doug Caplan canada
title
Japanese Vending Machines
Japan is a culture like no other. Traditions are honored and conformity is expected. But while cultural shifts are changing the attitudes of younger generations in particular, Japanese vending machines continue to thrive and serve as emblematic reminders of the conformity and the convenience that is central to Japanese culture. There is virtually nowhere in Japan that can offer escape from vending machines. They simply exist. They are efficient and reliable. They are colorful and inviting. I find them elegant.
The entire project currently consists of 56 images.
My work is heavily influenced by the energy and movement of the urban environment. I am particularly drawn to the geometric shapes and patterns found in the architecture and infrastructure of the city. Each image can be considered a fragment of awareness, when added to the collective body of work, combines to form a single idea or thought.
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entry description
This project explores the colorful world of Japanese vending machines. Japan has 5.52 million vending machines spread across the country. With a population of 127 million people, that is 23 people for each vending machine. Each year 6.95 trillion yen (US$65 billion) is spent on vending machine purchases in Japan. Japanese vending machines sell almost everything imaginable.Japan is a culture like no other. Traditions are honored and conformity is expected. But while cultural shifts are changing the attitudes of younger generations in particular, Japanese vending machines continue to thrive and serve as emblematic reminders of the conformity and the convenience that is central to Japanese culture. There is virtually nowhere in Japan that can offer escape from vending machines. They simply exist. They are efficient and reliable. They are colorful and inviting. I find them elegant.
The entire project currently consists of 56 images.
about the photographer
I am an artist born in Montreal (1965) and currently based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.My work is heavily influenced by the energy and movement of the urban environment. I am particularly drawn to the geometric shapes and patterns found in the architecture and infrastructure of the city. Each image can be considered a fragment of awareness, when added to the collective body of work, combines to form a single idea or thought.
back to gallery