Antenna, an artist group based in Kyoto, was founded in 2002.
The members are graduates of Kyoto City University of Arts. Conceiving ideas for their art-making from Japanese history and culture, Antenna utilizes various media for their artistic expressions. Current members include Keisuke Ichimura, Hideyuki Tanaka, and painter Yuko Kotetsu. With "JAPPY," their own artistic "mascot character" as a motif, they focus their eyes on what is considered "ordinary" in Japanese society, and pose critical questions -- through their works -- on truths, values and senses of happiness that exist within the ordinary, conventional notion.
"JAPPY" is a motif which makes frequent appearances in Antenna's works; a character born from Japanese symbols such as the rising sun, Mt. Fuji, pickled plum, and yellow skin. It is the mascot and deity of Antenna's fictional history theme park "YAMATOPIA". The theme part exists as a metaphor for the current state of Japan, rising out of mass production and consumption. The given series examines various issues faced by modern society in both a comical and critical representation.