Why Not Hand Over a “Shelter” to Hermit Crabs?

These are not your average hermit crab shells you’d find, say, on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore. Japanese artist Aki Inomata created this series of intricate clear plastic cityscapes, in part, as commentary on human adaptation and migration. “The hermit crabs wearing the shelters I built for them, which imitate the architecture of various countries, appeared to be crossing various national borders. Though the body of the hermit crab is the same, according to the shell it is wearing, its appearance changes completely. It’s as if they were asking, ‘Who are you?'”

Via aki-inomata.com and art-is.com

Inomata-1 Inomata-2 Inomata-3 Inomata-4 Inomata-5 Inomata-6

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/71005763 w=500&h=281]

1 Comments

  1. L. Marie on August 13, 2013 at 9:23 am

    In a word: amazing! Gorgeous designs for your upscale hermit crabs!