david robert makes fine art prints from japanese manhole covers

david robert makes fine art prints from japanese manhole covers 
images courtesy of david robert

tokyo-based, french designer david robert has traveled japan in search of the city’s most intricate and graphic manhole covers. while these ubiquitous urban elements might not sound like such an interesting subject to many, japan actually has a long history of artistic and creative cover designs for their city streets. colorful compositions include imagery based on traditional motifs, vibrant representations of nature, and quirky characters engaging in sport and craft.

robert has created a series of paper art prints drawn directly from iron city surfaces. his ‘souvenirs’, presented at kai in tokyo from now until august 22, 2015, are each created by rubbing black pigment over the entirety of the circular composition, tracing the graphic elements onto a single sheet of paper. the resulting prints document a unique facet of japan, allowing the urban elements to be uprooted from their original habitat and shared across the globe. 

robert’s compositions are sourced from manhole covers throughout japan

the fine art prints are traced on the city streets 

quirky characters are drawn on the surface of the manhole covers

traditional motifs are sketched onto paper

architecture and nature feature on the circular composition