Hidden Stories Underfoot

Manhole Covers of Japan: Couples Kimono

digital montage photography print

$40 12 x 12 inches

$70 18 x 18 inches

Manhole Covers

A manhole cover is an object we rarely notice. We walk across it every day as it quietly serves its purpose beneath our feet. It becomes worn, weathered, and covered with dirt. It is completely functional—but functional things can also be beautiful.

This series began in Japan, where municipalities commission beautifully designed manhole covers unique to each community. Their craftsmanship challenged my perception of these everyday objects and inspired me to see them not as infrastructure, but as works of art waiting to be rediscovered.

This piece features a traditional Japanese couple dressed in a yukata and kimono. To honor the elegance of their clothing, I filled the design with intricate textile patterns and vibrant photographic imagery inspired by Japanese culture. The black silhouette acts like the lead lines of a stained-glass window, revealing a luminous world of color beneath.

My work transforms overlooked objects into windows of discovery. The vibrant imagery hidden within each design invites viewers to pause, look closer, and reconsider what they thought they knew. Beauty often exists in unexpected places—we simply have to be willing to notice it.

See something else you like?

These suggestions have been carefully selected to create your own travel story within your home.

A place that matters to you deserves to be seen.

If there’s a location that holds meaning for you — a hometown, a favorite travel destination, a meaningful trip, or a place tied to your family story — I can create an original artwork inspired by your own photos and memories.

Commissioned pieces are created in collaboration with you, using your travel images and personal connection to guide the final work.

• Celebrate a meaningful trip
• Honor heritage or family roots
• Mark a milestone or life transition
• Create a deeply personal gift

Evelyn Curry Art

texas, usa

evelyn@evelyncurryart.com

© 2026. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy

We collect the information you provide when you subscribe to our emails, such as your name and email address, to send updates, offers, and news. We use this information only for email communication and may store it securely in our email marketing system. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email. We do not sell your personal information.