L: one of Taniguchi’s Hecomi Fitting sculptures. R: a stone crack is repaired in one of SUPERSTRUCTURES’ projects.

Remediation of cracks and spalls in masonry and concrete is a key part of our practice. While we endorse immediate repair of all observed deficiencies, we’re intrigued by this artist’s approach to less serious conditions (while they await repair, of course).

Ken’ichiro Taniguchi’s Hecomi Fitting project celebrates the organic negative spaces formed by cracks and losses in walls and roadways (hecomi means crack or indentation). Taniguchi creates bright yellow PVC sculptures precisely fitted to the hecomi he finds all around him.

At the end of the day, we share an “inspiration” with this artist—deterioration of structures. But there’s a big difference in the results: while Taniguchi’s work is meant to stand out, ours, successfully completed, is virtually invisible.