Okay, so land art is a bit passe you say. Well, fine. I'll take that. But this is not just land art. This is rice paddy art. Take that!
Do you know how amazing that is? That's worth toasting with some rice wine or sake!
I remember when I lived in Kyoto. We had a little rice paddy next to our apartment block. Man the cicadas love that shit in the summer. You don't get a minute's silence with all the racket that those glorified moths make, but it's nice to look over a paddy rather than be forced to stare at someone's little concrete balcony when you're outside on your own.
But I'm so jealous that it didn't occur to me to adapt that paddy into an artistic working space. I could've carved out my favourite album covers each month. That would've been the pop bomb!
But back to the sexy storm troopers.
Basically, in a bid to attract tourists, the town of Inakadate in Aomori prefecture - it's in the northern part of the main Japanese island, just under Hokkaido) - often stages these kinds of interventions. In the past they've often used iconic images from Japanese art that for art nerds like me just blew me away, but this year they've gone all Hollywood (in a good way, not like the snobby, snooty way your friends sometimes do) and paid tribute to Star Wars among other classics.
So, if that wasn't enough, they contacted the Death Star or wherever these troopers are hanging out these days and had them come and oversee the launch of the new designs (and presumably to promote the upcoming The Force Awakens.
There are so many levels of pop culture genius in this year's edition that I'm going to have to go and have a lie down to get over the excitement.
And, the rice will be harvested and eaten at the end of the summer.
Delicious!!!
Past images here.
More images and background of this year's here.