We will be traveling to Baton Rouge tomorrow and spending the weekend there! It just happens to coincide with Mardi Gras but no, I will not be participating in any activity that you may or may not end up seeing on the Internet. Happy a nice weekend and Happy Valentines Day!!
(photo of Louisianna marshes by Greg Guirard, who I happen to be related to in a first-removed kind of way)
Ever have those days when you feel like everyone is a comedian? Well now everything can be a comedian. Husband-and-wife design duo Noto Fusai‘s latest product are translucent wall decals (1,260 yen) that let everyday objects in your house get their 2 cents in. Just as an explanation kills the joke, a translation usually has a similar effect, but indulge me.
The stingy toilet paper holder says, “Only 30cm per person.”
The vent complains about “…Hyperventilating.”
Ironically, the more we clean it, the less we look at it. “Why don’t you look at me for once instead of the outdoors?”
Thumbtack 1: “I’m made from 18K gold.”
Thumbtack 2: “Really?? I mean….me to!”
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Easy-going Japanese design duo Yuruliku, comprised of Bananao and Kinue Oneda, get their pleasure from designing the smaller things in life. Their prime focus is on stationary but their awesome tote bags that I featured on this site back in ’08 have always been my favorite. Just announced last week, their latest design is grass-shaped post its that serve as page markers. The accumulation of interest or curiosity creates a blossoming tuft of grass.
They are currently available only through our shop. For $10 you get a total of 75 markers in 3 different sizes.
Enigmatic designer Naoto Fukasawa’s ±0 brand has just released their latest design, a minimalistic wristwatch that allows you to easily replace the band by sliding it in and out. Love the simplicity! It comes in 4 variations, each costing about 30,000 yen. It goes on sale March 5th.
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What is the relationship between food and design? That, essentially, was the question posed to all 182 JAGDA (Japan Association of Graphic Designers) members for the recent exhibition, Food Cloths. The assignment was to design a food cloth – a place mat, a picnic blanket, bento box wrapping, anything – that symbolized the designer’s concept of food. Looking at the results, the collective answer seems to be, without a doubt, they both make us happy.
Although the exhibition just ended, the association just launched a website where you can check out all of the work. Here are some of my favorites.
Kenjiro Sano aka Mr. Design – “Have A Nice Stomach.” Enough said.
Uehara Ryosuke – fruits distilled down to their basic forms.
Shoji Morishige – a meal expressed in the form of a painter’s palette.
Miwa Uchino – A bento box wrapping designed specifically for double-decker bento boxes. Watch a story unfold, literally.
Ogata Hiroko, who must have grown up in a very strict household, graphically depicts all the things you are not supposed to do with your chopsticks.
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Creative Director Kenjiro Sano
As part of their 50th anniversary, Stelton has enlisted Japanese designer Hiromichi Konno to design Setting Bowls for their Spring 2010 collection. When stacked the bowls resemble a flower in full bloom – very elegant and cheery. I love the pastel colors!
As of 2008 Konno has established a design studio in Tokyo. But before that he spent 3 years under the wings of Ross Lovegrove and then another 6 independently in the UK. This experience definitely shows through in his work.
Tama Art University, commonly referred to as Tamabi, is a prestigious art school – the RISD of Tokyo – that has produced several notable artists and designers, including Naoto Fukasawa and Issey Miyake. Therefore, we like to pay attention to some of the young artists being churned out of this educational system. With less than 1 month till the exhibition, Tamabi’s information design department has launched a website showcasing the work of their graduating seniors. The work will be on display at Modapolitica in Minami-Aoyama from March 12th – 14th. Here as some pieces that caught my eye.
* denotes titles translated arbitrarily by the author
“Subterranean Fear*” by Masaya Noguchi
A proposed redesign of sidewalks the recreates the fleeting sense of fear one experiences when something unexpected appears below their feet.
“Oripica” by Shion Suminokura
When was the last time you made origami by folding light?
“Calorie Trade Project” by Yoshie Takahashi
An En-Chari (Entertainment-Chrity) project that allows the user to reallocate their own calories to children in Kenya.
“Multiple Perspectives of the Pacific War*” by Mayu Fujimaki
A computer-based reenactment of events of the Pacific War. The user, as he or she engages with the system, is prompted to view events of the war from multiple perspectives.
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click to enlarge
If you will indulge me in a walk down memory lane, last year around this time we featured the work of Japanese photographer Kanako Sasaki in conjunction with the Shiseido Art Egg awards. Well, her work is now available at Azito, the online gallery of contemporary Japanese art! Kanako received her MFA in photography from our very own SVA in 2004. Kanako is a storyteller. She photographs herself in sites of historical significance, using history as an alternate landscape.
click images to enlarge
As I mentioned earlier, the 69th Tokyo Gift Show is currently underway. If you are going, also be sure to check out the display booth of Sasaki Kogei, who won the Gift Show eco company of the year award last year. They will be showcasing their latest products which includes this beautiful wooden puzzle of all the 47 prefectures of Japan. They’ve used 10 different kinds of wood to differentiate between the puzzle pieces. I’ve been meaning to brush up on my geography skills….
Another great design also using puzzle pieces are these interlocking picture frames! I think some floor-to-ceiling action using these pieces would be breathtaking.
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The 13th TARO Award was just announced yesterday! The annual awards, whose inception took place after Taro Okamoto passed away in 1996, are given to contemporary Japanese artists carving a path for their generation, or as Taro would say, creating “explosive” art. A record 758 entries were received and 22 head-nods later we had 4 winners.
* denotes titles arbitrarily translated by yours truly.
image © kodama gallery. all other images © taro okamoto museum
The first place (the Taro Award) went to Toshihiko Mitsuya for his large-scale work “The Indignant,” which includes quite a few soldiers sculpted from aluminum foil.
Second Place (the Toshiko Award) went to Makiko Tsuji for her fossilized every-day objects.
There were 2 honorable mentions. One which went to Takahiro Nagasawa for his large-scale print titled “Professional Baseball Report*”. Inspired by Nomura Kantoku, perhaps Japan’s most well-known manager of a baseball team, the work is an example of excessive fandom in which Nagasawa has etched the results of all 9 innings of all 150 games played during the season, onto a 6-meter wide scroll.
The second honorable mention went to Manabu Hasegawa for his sculpture, “Dust Before the Wind*,” which is a Japanese phrases that is suggestive of ephemeral qualities but can also signify imminent danger. I will now stop as any further contemplation will lead too easily to predictable interpretations of male identity.
