Japan’s 10th Annual Wara Art Festival Presents Super-Sized Rice Straw Sculptures

Fall is here, which in Japan means it’s time for the annual rice harvest. Every year, farmers ensure that the leftover rice-straw, known as “wara,” doesn’t go to waste. The wara is recycled by using it to to feed livestock, improve soil, and in the coastal region of Niigata Prefecture, it’s even used to make giant, beastly sculptures for the Wara Art Festival, held at Uwasekigata Park.

We’ve featured amazing straw sculptures from past ceremonies, and this year’s Wara Art Festival—which marks its 10th anniversary—does not disappoint. The festival’s organizers are celebrating the occasion by making the already immense sculptures twice as big! The sculptures are so huge they need special wooden frames for greater stability. Designs include fierce lions, gigantic gorillas, enormous crocodiles, and hefty rhinoceroses.

The Wara Art Festival started in 2008 when Niigata’s farming community contacted the local Musashino Art University to get some creative direction on turning their excess straw into works of art. Since then, art students come to design and build new beasts every year in Uwasekigata Park. This year’s festival has come to a close, but the straw sculptures will remain up on display through October 31, 2017.

The 10th year of Wara Art Festival welcomes gigantic beastly sculptures made from recycled rice straw.

Straw Animal Sculpture Festival Japan

Straw Animal Sculpture Festival Japan

Straw Animal Sculpture Festival Japan

Straw Animal Sculpture Festival Japan

Straw Animal Sculpture Festival Japan

Straw Animal Sculpture Festival Japan

See the rice straw sculptures in the wild.

Ware Art Festival: Website  | Facebook | Twitter
h/t [Spoon & Tamago]

All images via Wara Art Festival.

Related Articles:

Giant Dinosaur Sculptures Made of Recycled Rice Straw Pop Up in Japan

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Farmers Create Giant Crabs Made of Straw to Spread Awareness About Air Pollution

Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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