The Reason Why a 15 Yen "Umaibo" Became Art and Was Sold for 1.15 Million Yen
A limited edition artwork by contemporary artist Tomokazu Matsuyama featuring the packaging of a 15-yen snack, "Umaibo," sold at auction for 1.15 million yen.Summary
An artwork created by contemporary artist Tomokazu Matsuyama (born 1976), featuring the packaging of the 15-yen snack "Umaibo," has become a topic of discussion after one of the 50 limited pieces sold at auction for 1.15 million yen (including fees). The piece, titled "Umaibo Gendai Bijutsu Aji" (Umaibo Contemporary Art Flavor), was initially sold for 100,000 yen during Matsuyama's solo exhibition last year and quickly sold out. The artwork consists of an Umaibo wrapped in silver line drawings by Matsuyama, encased in a transparent acrylic case. The phenomenon of transforming an everyday snack wrapper into a piece of contemporary art is reminiscent of Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" (1917), which turned a mass-produced urinal into art, placing it within the tradition of conceptual art that emphasizes ideas and concepts.
(Source：朝日新聞)