What do you think of when you hear “balloon art”? An inflated balloon twisted to form shapes like the basic poodle or sword right? Well, Yuma Tanigawa has brought an interesting twist to balloon art by making figures and decorations using uninflated balloons.
This was the Twitter post that brought Yuma Tanigawa-san (@balloon_yuma)’s unique take on balloon art to our attention.
#ホイップスペース 開催おめでとうございます✨
— 谷川雄馬(たにがわゆうま・Yuma Tanigawa ) (@balloon_yuma) February 17, 2023
バルーンアートです。
幻獣や花のブーケを制作しています。
今年も色んな作品作っていく予定ですので、ぜひよろしくお願いします✨ pic.twitter.com/P3AcDU6x6B
This is Balloon Art ?!
Instead of typical balloon art that requires inflating balloons and twisting them to form shapes, Yuma Tanigawa-san uses uninflated balloons to make art. His first venture into the balloon art world was in 2015, when his wife who was recovering from a broken bone injury was shown balloon art and the joy that it brought to her. Yuma Tanigawa-san decided to start doing balloon art and made it into a business called Caravan in 2018.
Among the many balloon creations Caravan makes, including inflated balloon art like balloon flowers as gifts, balloon dresses that can be worn, balloon pool for parties, balloon distribution for events, and even workshops and classes, no doubt the “uninflated balloon art” draws the most attention as it defies peoples' concept of balloon art.
How is it made?
Uninflated balloon art is made of balloons and wires. Wires are flexible and can be bent to form any shape which acts as the base form, and the balloons are stretched over the wires to form the shapes.
Below are pictures from one of the balloon art classes conducted by Yuma Tanigawa-san. It looks fun doesn’t it.
今日は大所帯のバルーンアート教室でした✨
— 谷川雄馬(たにがわゆうま・Yuma Tanigawa ) (@balloon_yuma) April 22, 2023
大人から子どもまで参加した体験ワークショップ。
皆さん、それぞれ見本を元に好きなお花を作ってた。
僕の教室は割と自由に、見本は無視して自由に作るとこも多く、技法だけ押さえてたら特に気にしない(笑)
みんな楽しそうで何よりです✨ pic.twitter.com/cdDPXLOwSU
Writer's Pick
Mythical Creatures & Fantasy Flowers Balloon Art
Without further ado, here are some of Yuma Tanigawa-san’s most impressive uninflated balloon art creations.
White Snake - Ancient - (白蛇 -古来-)
白蛇 (Shiro-hebi) are considered as sacred in Japan, they are believed to be divine beasts and messengers of God.
Yuma Tanigawa-san is quite proud of this creation which he has been wanting to make for a long time, and we can certainly see why. Using inflated balloons, he is somehow able to recreate the scaly appearance of a snake, as well as its piercing red eyes.
"I'm going to tell you a special story today."
...
The divine beast that protects our clan.
The white snake that our ancestors rescued still give us divine protection...- Translated excerpt from Official Website
【新作】白蛇 -古来-
— 谷川雄馬(たにがわゆうま・Yuma Tanigawa ) (@balloon_yuma) October 30, 2022
語り継がれる物語
一族と共に繁栄を見守る神獣
世代を超え、時を超え、彼らに寄り添う
前から制作したかった白蛇。
正面からの表情が特にお気に入りの作品です。
11月19・20日のデザインフェスタにて初出しします。
現物もかっこいいのでぜひ見に来てください！ pic.twitter.com/bcNcZI65GT
Shadow of Yata - Peace - (八咫の影-安穏-)
八咫烏 (Yatagarasu) is a mythical raven that is believed to be a guide from God in Shinto mythology. There is a legend that a Yatagarasu accompanied Emperor Jimmu on his Eastern expedition. The Yatagarasu symbolises guidance and is depicted as having 3 legs.
People are guided by something, be it other humans, Gods, or themselves.
In its jet black eyes, what you seek is reflected…- Translated excerpt from Official Website
#見た人は無言で黒のものを載せる pic.twitter.com/L1syMtmX3z
— 谷川雄馬(たにがわゆうま・Yuma Tanigawa ) (@balloon_yuma) February 18, 2023
Divine Deer - Spring Thunder - (神鹿 -春雷-)
神鹿 (Shinroku) are divine deer raised upon the grounds of a shrine, and are believed to the messengers of God. The work depicts the God of the Forest that announces the arrival of spring. It protects the forest by blending in with nature. Running through the trees, you catch a glimpse of its tail whose apperance is not of a normal deers it disappears from sight.
The deer king heralds the coming of spring.
The land of winter comes alive, and the seeds and plants begin to awaken…- Translated excerpt from Official Website
Fantasy Flowers for a Special Day
As decorations, a gift, or even a bouquet for a once-in-a-lifetime event, these balloon flowers will make guests and receivers do a double take.
The flowers have a unique shine and look to them that is only made possible with balloons.
Below, we have “Fairies Candy Box”, a gift body made in the image of fairies packing sweets into a box.
To Close
Yuma Tanigawa-san’s uninflated balloon art makes for a unique decoration and a special present for someone. If you are interested in getting your own, check the Caravan official website. Follow his social media for more beautiful balloon art, and information on exhibitions too!!
【デザフェスお品書き（6）】
— 谷川雄馬(たにがわゆうま・Yuma Tanigawa ) (@balloon_yuma) November 14, 2022
ポストカード
場所的にどうしても置けない！
そんな方におすすめのポストカードを用意しています。
作品はすべてプロカメラマンの写真なので、どこに飾っても遜色ありません。
今回初出しの作品の写真もあります（ポストカードにはロゴはありません）
1点：200円 pic.twitter.com/WREXprR3Bp
Photos provided courtesy of Yuma Tanigawa 谷川雄馬 (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Caravan Official Website).
