The Zipper Boat Is A Special Work Of Art
Japanese artist Yasuhiro Suzuki has been steadily making waves with his wonderful creation, the Zipper boat which technically is known as the “Zip-fastener ship”. In 2004, Suzuki originally created a smaller model of the zipper boat, with the full-sized version designed in 2010.

The Zipper boat is created in the shape of the zipper that looks like it is unzipping the water.
Apparently, Suzuki was first inspired to design the Zipper boat when he was looking down at Tokyo Bay from an airplane, where he noticed a boat and the resulting foam behind it made it look like the boat was “opening up the sea like a zipper”.
As part of an outdoor art installation for the recently concluded DESIGNNART Tokyo 2020 festival, the Zipper boat was featured in what can be rightly called its comeback. The installation, titled Opening the River Zip-Fastener Ship saw the 9-meter boat travel between Azumabashi and Sakurabashi from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8.
The event description notes that the Sumida River historically served as a border between cities. Roughly translated, the site reads, “The waves trailing behind the zipper ship as it travels between Azumabashi and Sakurabashi connects the opposing banks while also opening the water’s surface like an actual zipper. It will change how you look at the town’s scenery.”
The idea behind the installation was to “draw out and convey the water’s various expressions.”
- date publishedDecember 14, 2020
- categoryTechnology
- original sourceGizmodo↗