
This week’s MotD theme: Metal
PacSet Tours posted this delightful photo of a robot face drain cover found at The Ghibli Museum, in Mitaka Japan. Inspired by Hayao Miyazaki‘s file, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, this cheery cover can brighten anyone’s day.
I love its simple artistry, symmetry, and depth. They could have just carved a face into a flat piece of metal; instead they chose to give it dimension, making it seem almost alive.
From a 2012 Amusing Planet blog post about Japan’s creative covers, they state:
The trend started in the 1980s when Japan wanted to standardize their sewer system. Until then, Japan used regular geometric shaped manhole covers similar to those used in other countries. As communities outside of Japan’s major cities were slated to receive new sewer systems these public works projects were met with resistance. One dedicated bureaucrat solved the problem by allowing the town folk to choose their own design. Today nearly 95 percent of the 1,780 municipalities in Japan sport their own specially designed manhole covers.
Inspiration for Today
As we go about our day today, see if we can find ways to take an extra few moments to make something ordinary look extra-ordinary. It could be something as simple as making a salad and placing any added veggies (peppers, carrots, tomato slices, etc) into a delightful face on top.
Happy Coloring!
If you would want your mandala or your idea for a mandala to be considered for the “Mandala of the Day”, read about how on the Participate page. It’s easy! Or recommend one you’ve seen via my Contact page.