# Tradition-Celebrating Art Installations Large-Scale Straw Sculptures Adorn the Wara Art Festival By Francesca Mercurio | Published 2021-09-14 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wara-art-festival References: [designboom](https://www.designboom.com/art/massive-rice-straw-creatures-wara-art-festival-japan-09-14-2021/) A multidisciplinary collaboration between students at Tokyo's Musashino Art University and the local [Japanese agricultural community](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nakajimaya-crossing) has conceived a series of [mythical sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neojomon-biomorphic-fantme) for the Wara Art Festival. The Wara Art Festival celebrates the ancient agricultural material of rice straw - a byproduct of the rice production once used to feed animal livestock and fertilizer. The festival began in 2008, and each year, design students are invited to create art - alongside local farmers - that revive and celebrates this ancient technique. This year, the students transformed rice straw into [large-scale mythical and animal sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farming-photographs). From lions, eagles, spiders to mythical creatures - this year's Wara Art Festival celebrates local tradition and craft and invites the community to marvel at the sculptural installations. Image Credit: Wara Art Festival, [designboom](https://www.designboom.com/art/massive-rice-straw-creatures-wara-art-festival-japan-09-14-2021/), [designboom](https://www.designboom.com/art/massive-rice-straw-creatures-wara-art-festival-japan-09-14-2021/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 49% | Freshness: 10% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Agricultural Art Installations:** Pairing with local farmers and multicultural artists could inspire innovative large-scale sculpture displays made from agricultural materials. - **Multidisciplinary Sculpting Events:** Collaborating with artists from a diverse range of fields shows a potential to create unique art installations that showcase local cultures and derive material from humble beginnings. - **Reviving Old Artisanal Techniques:** Drawing inspiration from ancient techniques and materials such as rice straw can create opportunities for sustainable yet creative art displays. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Agriculture:** Collaboration with local farmers for traditional art installations can help generate interest in otherwise overlooked agricultural byproducts, leading to economic opportunities. - **Creative Arts:** Exploring art installations with unconventional materials such as agricultural byproducts creates a chance for artists to showcase their talents in fresh and impactful ways. - **Tourism:** Celebrating local traditions and crafts through large-scale art installations can foster tourism and simultaneously generate revenue for local businesses and economies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Folk Creature Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fibredog.md) - [Large-Scale Sculpture Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/desert-x1.md) - [Colorfully Inflatable Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blowup-art-the-hague.md) - [Community-Centric Sculptural Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playful-sculptures.md) - [Monumental Air Installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iwagumi-air-scape.md) - [Whimsical Spirit Art Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anima.md) - [Historic AR Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/historic-ar-experience.md) - [Music Festival Fabric Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fabric-mushrooms.md) - [Vibrant City Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/craig-karl2.md)