With Designart Tokyo, Tokyo is becoming the world's most multicultural city through innovation and fusion of cultures.

This year, Designart Tokyo (also known as DESIGNART TOKYO) returns for its seventh year, promising a dazzling showcase of design, art, interior, and fashion presentations in Tokyo and throughout the world. This year's theme is "Sparks: Liberating Thoughts," which invites visitors to embrace revolutionary creations born of personal discoveries and liberated thinking amid profound societal changes.

This year, Designart Tokyo (also known as DESIGNART TOKYO) returns for its seventh year, promising a dazzling showcase of design, art, interior, and fashion presentations in Tokyo and throughout the world. This year's theme is "Sparks: Liberating Thoughts," which invites visitors to embrace revolutionary creations born of personal discoveries and liberated thinking amid profound societal changes.


HONOKA, the design lab that won the SaloneSatellite Award 2023 1st Prize, for their project "TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT," is now set to exhibit their work in a triumphant return at DESIGNART TOKYO 2023

A prestigious 1st Prize was awarded to HONOKA at the SaloneSatellite Award 2023. "TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT" stood out among the competition, showcasing innovation and creativity at its best.

To celebrate this remarkable achievement, HONOKA will present the "TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT" in a triumphant exhibition. The showcase will showcase their innovative work, highlighting their commitment to sustainable design and re-imagining the traditional TATAMI.

We congratulate HONOKA on receiving this well-deserved recognition, and we encourage you not to miss their outstanding exhibition at SaloneSatellite 2023. Their dedication to pushing the boundaries of design promises to be a true testament to their talent.

© 2023 honoka lab

From left to right: MORITAKA TOCHIGI , RYO SUZUKI , SHOICHI YOKOYAMA, SHINNOSUKE HARADA, KAZUKI FUJIWARA, JAMES KAORU BURY

A design lab founded by passionate product designers, this group is dedicated to exploring and utilizing cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, including 3D printing, to create products that evoke the subtle allure of natural materials. They prioritize factors like texture, aroma, and color to ensure a delightful user experience while embracing the inherent charm of the materials. This approach aligns perfectly with contemporary design philosophies that value sustainability and environmental consciousness.


Introducing 9 contemporary craft artists from Denmark's Bornholm Island for the first time in Japan

The artistic fusion of Japan and the Nordic region through the masterpieces of nine contemporary craft artists from Bornholm Island, Denmark's territorial island in the Baltic Sea. The exhibition is scheduled to run from October 26th to October 28th at HOTEL K5 in Nihonbashi Kozumachi.

UNESCO-affiliated organization "World Craft Council" awarded Bornholm Island the prestigious "WORLD CRAFT REGION BORNHOLM" title in 2017, recognizing its excellence in arts and crafts.

Jakob Jørgensen Studio

From left to right: Rick Gerner, Charlotte Thorup, Johanne Jahncke, Michael Geertsen, Jakob Jørgensen, Per Suntum, Line Depping, Kaori Juzu, Iben Birch Bech

The event provides a unique glimpse into the lives of local artists on the island, providing an immersive experience that infuses a harmonious blend of Japanese and Nordic sensibilities. Witness the remarkable talent and creativity of these contemporary craft artists and discover the inspiring connections between cultures.

Venue:HOTEL K5 (K5 Suite)

3-5 Nihonbashi Kabuto-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0026 

https://k5-tokyo.com/


Italy's Exquisite Yacht Brand, SANLORENZO, presents the world of "Design & Art"

©sanlorenzo

A vision of "Design & Art" will be showcased by SANLORENZO Japan, the company that distributes Italy's exquisite yacht brand SANLORENZO in Japan, at the DESIGNART TOKYO 2023 Official Venue, DESIGNART GALLERY. One of the world's leading brands, "Paola Lenti," will be featured in the exhibition along with furniture designed by Sanlorenzo Yacht's in-house designer Patricia Urquiola for MOROSO. In this exhibition, you will be able to experience the artistic worldview of Sanlorenzo Yacht. Visitors can also enjoy the SANLORENZO LOUNGE at the venue.

Event Venue:DESIGNART GALLERY (〒107-0061 Tokyo, Minato City, Kita-Aoyama, 2 Chome−7−15)


SANLORENZO'S MA5 GALLERY presents "PATTERN STROKE- 模様の筆跡

In Japan, SANLORENZO JAPAN launched MA5 GALLERY in an effort to distinguish itself from other yacht brands by emphasizing "Design" and "Art." As an ever-evolving platform, MA5 GALLERY showcases art, design, and interiors.DESIGNART TOKYO 2023 features an exhibition inspired by the artistic technique called "PATTERN STROKE," in which artist Noda Yasuto assembles patterns into artworks. A collection of works depicting landscapes observed by the artist on his travels will also be displayed. The gallery strives to be a hub for innovative art and design during the event.

NOBUTO FUKUTSU / 福津 宣人https://www.nobutofukutsu.com/

Nobuto Fukutsu, Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1969, this artist first pursued a career in video production. Later, they transitioned into painting and developed their own unique painting style utilizing a variety of patterns with the theme that "everything is like a pattern."

Venue: M5 GALLERY

〒100-0006 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Yurakucho, 1 Chome−12−1, Shin-Yurakucho Building, 1F

https://www.ma5gallery.com/


Discover Muuto's latest designs and creations through five captivating scenes.

A special pop-up event will be held at DESIGNART TOKYO 2023 Official Exhibition to celebrate Muuto opening its first-ever store in Japan in spring 2024 in Tokyo's Aoyama district. "THE DESIGNART GALLERY." Featuring furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories, and the latest creations, such as the Wrap Lounge Chair, which debuted at this year's Milan Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

It will feature five distinct scenes, including Living, Dining, and Home Office setups, providing an immersive experience to appreciate the unique world of "Muuto," a leading force in the New Nordic design movement. At this special event, you can explore the full line of Muuto products and enjoy the captivating atmosphere.

Muuto: https://www.interoffice.co.jp/products/muuto/

Event Venue:DESIGNART GALLERY (〒107-0061 Tokyo, Minato City, Kita-Aoyama, 2 Chome−7−15)


A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE「TYPE-V Nature Architects project」

"THINKING DESIGN, MAKING DESIGN: TYPE-V Nature Architects project" was on display at ISSEY MIYAKE / MILAN's flagship store during Milan Design Week. The exhibition has now been reimagined and will be presented at two Tokyo stores, A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE / AOYAMA and ISSEY MIYAKE GINZA / 442, exhibiting prototypes that go beyond clothing. A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE's collaborative project "TYPE-V Nature Architects project" explores how design integrates into material and manufacturing processes.

By combining Nature Architect's latest design solutions with A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE's unique manufacturing system, this project explores the possibilities offered by a single piece of fabric. Visitors are invited to explore the integration of design concepts into tangible products in this exhibition that explores the potential that lies beyond traditional clothing.

A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE 

https://www.isseymiyake.com/pages/apocable#section0

 

Event Venue:A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE / AOYAMA 

〒107-0062 Tokyo, Minato City, Minamiaoyama, 5 Chome−3−10 FROM-1st

ISSEY MIYAKE GINZA / 442 

4 Chome-4-2 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 141-0061

For more information, please visit: https://designart.jp/designarttokyo2023/

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Art, exhbition, event, Design, Designart Tokyo 2022 merci team Art, exhbition, event, Design, Designart Tokyo 2022 merci team

Today marks the unveiling of Designart Tokyo, which will take place on October 21 - October 30, 2022

At DESIGNART TOKYO, one of Japan’s largest design and art festivals, leading creators in various genres (art, design, interior design, fashion, etc.) converge in Tokyo, one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities, to hold exhibitions across the city. The entire district will be turned into a museum, bridging invaluable encounters and inspirations through interaction with creators. With “TOGETHER” as this year’s theme, DESIGNART will continue to promote design and art from Tokyo to the rest of the world as an international event.

Leading creators from all genres (art, design, interior design, fashion, etc.) converge in Tokyo, one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, to hold exhibitions across the city during DESIGNART TOKYO. Through interaction with creators, the district will be transformed into a museum, connecting valuable encounters and inspirations. DESIGNART will continue to promote design and art from Tokyo to the rest of the world with "TOGETHER" as this year's theme.


NEXT  CIRCULATION - Sustainable & Technology

Participating creators : Taiwan Design Research Institute, Landloop × GELCHOP / BCXSY, Orna Tamir Schestowitz, Yuma Kano, Ryuichi Kozeki, OKURAYAMA STUDIO × KAARON STUDIO, Hiroto Yoshizoe, 3710Lab × Sae Honda, Satoshi Itasaka

Manufacturing and sustainability initiatives are being proactively taken worldwide in various fields to achieve the SDGs toward a sustainable society. In addition to developing materials and technologies, building relationships with partners and educating the next generation are likely to be the keys to producing high-demand, popular products. Considering this, DESIGNAT TOKYO 2022 will present the NEXT CIRCULATION, a sustainability- and technology-themed exhibition, featuring initiatives by leading corporate brands and creators, as well as a selection of inspiring exhibits that contemplate “beyond” recycling and upcycling. Satoshi Itasaka, a designer in the fields of architecture, product, and art, who also works on upcycling, will take charge of the spatial design.

COOPERATION:
NOMURA MEDIAS Co.,Ltd. PANECO® (WORKSTUDIO Corporation), Musashi Paint Holdings Co.,Ltd.(Bio Based Paint), GLORY CO., LTD., remare,inc.

The “Printed Sculpture” art project of LAND LOOP, a brand known for its naturally derived plastics developed by Toyoshima & Co. Ltd., will feature work by GELCHOP and BCXSY. The Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), Taiwan’s design promoter, will present a special edition of “the SP!RAL” for DESIGNART TOKYO. Israeli designer Orna Tamir Schestowitz designed organically shaped ceramic vessels, and superimposed on the manmade object photographic images of the bounty of the Israeli earth. She has transformed the age-old medium of ceramics by an inspired application of modern techniques. Spatial designer Hiroto Yoshizoe will exhibit “Orbit,” a new lighting work first presented in Milan, which features shades made from 100% recycled glass of waste CRTs and fluorescent tubes.

DESIGNART GALLERY at Hz SHIBUYA : New Platform with Asian Design

Participating creators : messagingleaving(UNDER 30), Karyn Lim(UNDER 30), SDANLEY DESIGN WORKS, quantum × Stratasys Japan, ADAM from SOZAI CENTER( KOMORU Ltd. ・M&T)

DESIGNART believes that the time has come for Asia, with its strong economic growth rate and emerging cultural center, to take the lead in terms of creativity as well as technology. To this end, this year we will present DESIGNART GALLERY, a collective exhibition focusing on Asian creators, as a steppingstone to a new platform for building more friendly and progressive relationships with other Asian countries. The exhibition will be held at the newly established Hz, an event space with an eye-catching glass facade in the cultural hub of Shibuya.

The Taipei-based creative practice messagingleaving, led by Chialing Chang (UNDER 30), will present the lighting and mirror collections that uncover diverse expressions of brass and stainless steel. Karyn Lim (UNDER30) will be exhibiting Transformation Bags, a play on geometry to create sculptural forms that can transform into a flat object. In "mitate" project by quantum × Stratasys Japan, images of unique bowls were generated by seeing everything as a bowl with an AI, we then designed 3D data of bowls based on the images and 3D printed. Interior products made by new material “ADAM”, established by KOMORU Ltd. and M&T, a product design studio, utilizing apple pomace from the apple juice and cider.

Designer SDANLEY SHEN, will be exhibited the "The Bender", made in collaboration with the warp of wood, which is the wood's natural state and people can feel more warmth of this work.

「KAISU」 Furniture by featured Creators

Participating creators : Ishinomaki Laboratory(Keiji Ashizawa, Kenji Ito, Wataru Kumano, Koichi Suzuno, Naoki Terada, Nicolaj Friis Nøddesbo, Shigeki Fujishiro)、Shinnosuke Harada/ Junichi Ishigaki/ Ryo Suzuki、NAMAIKI / Mai Suzuki

The exhibition will feature a collection of furniture works with innovative and adventurous designs at KAISU, a former Japanese-style restaurant in Akasaka, which has been renovated as a new space. In the last 11 years, Ishinomaki Laboratory, founded by architect Keiji Ashizawa, has gained recognition and its concept has spread throughout the world. This time, returning to its roots, seven architects and designers held a workshop with craftspeople in Ishinomaki, and designed unique pieces under the theme of Ishinomaki Home Base. The results of the workshop will be presented in the form an exhitibition of furnitures and products under the title “7 designers, 2 days at Ishinomaki Laboratory”.

Three tables, explored by three designers, Shinnosuke Harada/ Junichi Ishigaki/ Ryo Suzuki, are exhibited under the theme of an easily portable "ibasho". Mai Suzuki will exhibit innovative works that create undiscovered(MICHI) possibilities for the traditional craft of "Kumiko". Through a fusion of craftsmanship and technology, she transformed kumiko flats into a hemispherical. The café and bar at the venue will be a lively spot for creators to gather during the exhibition.   

Venue : KAISU 6-13-5, Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo

ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO: 「Regeneration and circulation」

Participating creators : Konel、Ao. 、Studio POETIC CURIOSITY

ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO will serve as a space which various NGOs, NPOs and other organizations involved with the SDGs can use to communicate information about their activities and as a space where individuals have the opportunity to engage with the SDGs in their own way, allowing various plans to unfurl and take shape.

This time, the artworks of three creators will be exhibited which are born from the concept of “Regeneration and circulation”. Konel will exhibit clogs made from discarded clothing. Even if the teeth wear out, they can be replaced and continue to regenerate semi-permanently. “Ao.” sustainable indigo-dyed furniture project will present “Ao.Re:,” furniture upcycled from discarded wooden furniture and solid wood lumber. With the theme of “regenerating touch and feel,” Studio POETIC CURIOSITY will showcase “Fabric Record,” a phonograph record made from used and discarded textiles to enjoy sounds made from fabric.

Venue:ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO

2-3-1,  Itochu Garden B1F, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hibiya OKUROJI: Diverse works, from interior goods to cutting-edge art, under the 100-year-old viaduct

Participating creatorsTakaya Mic Mitsunaga (UNDER 30) ,   Nina Nomura (UNDER 30) ,   Sohma Furutate (UNDER 30),  nooca,  Maruhei Timber × tossanaigh

Hibiya OKUROJI is located between Hibiya and Ginza, where the impressive brick bridge arches are still in use after more than 100 years. The 300-meter-long space will host a variety of artworks, from interior design to works by cutting-edge artists. In a large space of approx. 130 square meters, the Berlin Wall online project, organized by DESIGNART TOKYO’s UNDER 30 artist Takaya Mic Mitsunaga, will appear under the title BERLIN WALL TOKYO. Another UNDER 30 artist, Nina Nomura, will exhibit Life Through Holes, a work that questions the true richness of the relationship between objects and people by filling the surface of objects with tiny holes. Sohma Furutate (UNDER 30), will exhibit the interior elements "MASS -2022-", seems to have an irregular appearance, but the forms that emerge by capturing all the elements of surface transitions , depth and shading are a more "human" way of seeing things as a sensual perspective.

Other exhibitions include new flower vases and objects from the “form” collection of nooca, a brand launched this year. Maruhei Timber, which recovered from the 2011 earthquake with the help of many supporters, will display its Miyagi Terroir Kitchen created with the design unit tossanaigh to promote resource recycling, a pressing challenge faced by Japan‘s forestry industry. Visitors can also enjoy sales and events during the exhibition.

Perrier-Jouët & Garance Vallée - “Planted Air,” a collaboration artwork, will be exhibited in Japan ahead of the world

Perrier-Jouët, the French prestige Champagne house, releases the world premiere in Japan of a collaborative artwork, “Planted Air,” created for Perrier-Jouët with French artist, architect, and designer Garance Vallée.

This work expresses the dialogue between the two pillars that support the Maison Perrier-Jouët: art and nature. Reinterpreting the ecology of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard, the work's extensive use of curves and arabesques represents Art Nouveau from a contemporary perspective. The materials chosen are unique and artisanal, and the solid, hand-carved limestone blocks evoke the terroir of Champagne. The wrought iron, which was painstakingly forged by craftsmen, is reminiscent of the main gate of the Maison Belle Epoque in Epernay.

Venue:ISETAN SALONE   TOKYO MIDTOWN, Galleria

1F Promotion Space   9-7-4, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Period:10/19(Wed.)~11/1(Tue.)2022

SANLORENZO JAPAN meets Kazuto Imura

Pre-launch of SANLORENZO JAPAN, the world’s leading Italian yacht brand by internationally renowned designers including Piero Lissoni

Coinciding with the pre-launch of SANLORENZO JAPAN, artist Kazuto Imura’s solo exhibition “Æ/æ” will be held at MA5 GALLERY, which will serve as a platform for SANLORENZO JAPAN’s Art & Design. For the first exhibition there, Imura has created mirrors that “do not reflect yourself.” Through examining materials and techniques that have been used in mirror production, he relives the history of the human-mirror association. The title “Æ/æ” was inspired by the technique he used with a focus on the mirror construction, where he superimposes the phenomenon caused by the materials’ composite nature during the mirror-making process onto a reflected image. Please enjoy this fantastic space formed by mirrors.

Material and technical cooperation : UNOU JUKU by AGC Inc.  Makership Inc.

Venue:MA5GALLERY by SANLORENZO JAPAN 

5-10-17, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo Curated by DESIGNART

Period:10/21(Fri.)~11/28(Mon.) Closed on Wednesdays

teamLab, Continuous Life and Death at the Now of Eternity at VOLVO STUDIO AOYAMA

Volvo Studio Aoyama will display Continuous Life and Death at the Now of Eternity by the art collective teamLab. This will be exhibited in conjunction with another art exhibition by teamLab and sponsored by Volvo Car Japan, VOLVO teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live. It is held at Mifuneyama Rakuen in Kyushu, where the vast forest, megaliths, caves, and other natural features of Mt. Mifuneyama, become art in themselves. The exhibition will allow visitors who are unable to travel to Kyushu to see this installation at Volvo Studio Aoyama, where flowers continuously bloom and perish, to experience the continuity of life seen over a long span of time.

Venue: VOLVO STUDIO AOYAMA 3-3-11, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo.

Period:7/15(Fri.)~11/6(Sun.)2022

teamLab, Continuous Life and Death at the Now of Eternity © teamLab

A space where fashion and art blend with each other

Prada presents the exhibition “Who the Bær”

Period:10/15(Sat.)2022 ~1/30(Mon.)2023

Venue:Prada Aoyama  5-2-6 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 5th floor

Prada presents the exhibition “Who the Bær” by Simon Fujiwara, organized with the support of Fondazione Prada, at Prada Aoyama. “Who the Bær” is a cartoon character created by the artist that takes inspiration from fairy tales, fantasy literature, animation and the exhibition explores a plurality of topics belonging to different realms: from the climate collapse to cultural appropriation, from plastic surgery to Pop-art through the coming-of-age story of ''Who the Bær".


“Visitors" by Chrisitan Hidaka & Takeshi Murata

Christian Hidaka (b. 1977, Chiba, Japan, lives and works in London, UK) and Takeshi Murata (b. 1974, USA, lives and works in Los Angeles) will hold the co-exhibition Visitors at Maison Hermes Forum in Ginza. Through the worlds of these two artists, who continue to create works that interrogate the space between reality and fiction, the exhibition will highlight the fictional structure seen in contemporary art through two narratives.

Period:10/21(Fri.)2022~1/31(Tue.)2023

Venue:  GINZA MAISON HERMÈS Le Forum 5-4-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo


Ayame Ono at PERVERZE THE EMBODIMENT STORE

Established in Tokyo in 2016 by an anonymous collective of young creatives, PERVERZE is both a fashion brand and a project, will have a collaborative exhibition with artist Ayame Ono at PERVERZE THE EMBODIMENT STORE, which opened in March 2022. While utilizing thestructure of the store, this exhibition will incorporate PERVERZE's archive of textile patterns and materials created up until now, forming a collage of works where various layers intersect.

Venue:PERVERZE THE EMBODIMENT STORE  5-5-1, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo


Experience of Technology x Art

Metaverse Boundary 

The metaverse, such as digital twins, is a recent hot topic. What would people do if a metaverse city is shrouded in darkness? What is it like if a mirror exists physically at the boundary of the virtual and real? This is an experimental artwork by ExMetaClub x TV Asahi, which considers the viewer’s (avatar’s) experience and behavior in the metaverse space itself as the artwork. “The gorgeous and light-filled METAVERSE ROPPONGI” will be turned into the “Black METAVERSE ROPPONGI” for a limited time. This interactive artwork is simultaneously exhibited physically and virtually. *The exhibit will tour different locations.

Period:10/28(Fri.)~10/30(Sun.)2022  How to participate: Real Space /ANB Tokyo 3rd floor  5-2-4, Roppongi, Minato-ku Tokyo

Virtual space / METAVERSE ROPPONGI


MedicalArt Turning your Health Condition into Art from Medical Data

Medical Art is produced by five creators with diverse backgrounds (designer, planner, engineer, graduate school lecturer, etc.). The data they collected themselves (e.g., facial expressions, behaviors, and health information) are combined and redefined based on modern medical data to create an artwork of the inner self. “Medical Data x Art” will offer an opportunity to learn about the unknown inner self and to improve wellbeing. At the venue within patisserie UN GRAIN shop, renowned for MIGNARDISES (bite-sized sweets), visitors can purchase sweet treats while enjoying an artistic vibe.

Venue:UN GRAIN | Premiere Building 1F, 6-8-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo


This special venue happened to be decorated by Japanese creators, as Ambientec sponsored the adorning of the venue with 120 TURN+ lamps, designed by Nao Tamura, while plant artist Satoshi Kawamoto took charge of table-top decorations. Stemming from this, the first collaborative installation with Kawamoto will be exhibited in TOKYO. ( Directed by Nao Tamura, Venue provided by SEMPRE DESIGN)

INTERIOR

New collections and presentations by interior brands

Venue: FLEXFORM TOKYO  6-4-10, Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo

2022 NEW COLLECTION【AMBROEUS】

FLEXFORM 2022 NEW COLLECTION

In a relentless pursuit of the beauty that breathes in our everyday life, the 2022 NEW COLLECTION of FLEXFORM has further evolved through the refinement of its graceful sense of beauty, not being influenced by trends or self-satisfaction. The global flagship store FLEXFORM TOKYO in Minami Aoyama offers not only new products, but also sofas, armchairs, tables, chairs, cabinets, and other comfortable furniture for daily use.


FOCUS / YUJI OKITSU at ROYAL FURNITURE COLLECTION

Venue: ROYAL FURNITURE COLLECTION SHOWROOM  2-12-4 Sakamoto Bldg. 1 F Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

The lighting piece FOCUS, designed by Yuji Okitsu and commercialized by the French lighting brand DCW éditions PARIS, will be exhibited in the Tokyo showroom of the Royal Furniture Collection. The original FOCUS was exhibited by Yuji Okitsu for the first time worldwide at Milano Salone Satellite 2018 and domestically at AXIS during DESIGNART TOKYO 2018. It was presented as an interior object hung from the ceiling like a mobile, combining multiple thin and light flat lenses and LED lights. By re-focusing on and re-composing the existing elements such as light, air, and scenery, FOCUS continually creates a new scenery responding to subtle ambient changes in the space. This time, the details of "FOCUS" have been reconsidered and refined to create a new lighting work that is even more sophisticated and conceptual than the original.

ARIAKE with LE KLINT / Bang&Olufsen / BELAIR LAB

Venue: #103 4-1-15 Minami-Aoyama , Minato-ku, Tokyo

Ariake, a furniture brand founded by Legnatec and Hirata Chair, two factories from the furniture producing town of Morodomi in Saga prefecture, will present its new collection for 2022 in collaboration with LE KLINT, Bang & Olufsen and BELAIR LAB.


"DISSECT" Satoshi Kawamoto × Ambientec

Period:10/28(Fri.)~10/30(Sun.)2022 

Venue:LIGHT BOX STUDIO AOYAMA   5-16-7, Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo

This year's The Salone del Mobile.Milano’s Gala Dinner, celebrating the 60th anniversary, was held as a private dinner on the rooftop of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the church known for its depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper". This special venue happened to be decorated by Japanese creators, as Ambientec sponsored the adorning of the venue with 120 TURN+ lamps, designed by Nao Tamura, while plant artist Satoshi Kawamoto took charge of table-top decorations. Stemming from this, the first collaborative installation with Kawamoto will be exhibited in TOKYO. (Directed by Nao Tamura, Venue provided by SEMPRE DESIGN)


PATIO PETITE at GINZA innit

Venue: GINZA innit  7-10-1  2F, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

A special outdoor furniture exhibition of PATIO PETITE will be held at “upstairs outdoor living,” a lifestyle store on the 2nd floor of “GINZA innit” run by Sugita Ace. On display will be the PATIO PETITE WA Series by TORAFU ARCHITECTS Inc., developed with Sugita Ace, and the PATIO PETITE MA Series by SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE. A variety of plants from FUGA will also fill the space


ART

Enjoy art in the city in autumn, from interactive installations to established galleries

FEEL HOTEL TOGETHER at all day place shibuya

Directed by A Green’s Scenting Designer MEGUMI FUKATSU, “FEEL HOTEL TOGETHER,” an installation themed on the merging and connection of the five senses, will be held at all day place shibuya. A diverse group of next-generation designers and artists will come together to create works of art. Besides exhibits at the reception and in guest rooms, there will be exhibition rooms for visitors to stay overnight. Experience of “sensory mariage” with professionals of taste will also be provided at coffee stand, beer bar and dining in the hotel. 

Venue:all day place shibuya  1-17-1, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku Tokyo

Rooms for exhibiting artworks (Open to the public): 1 room (12:00~19:00)

Rooms for exhibiting artworks (overnight stay possible, reservation required). :3rooms

Other exhibitions: hotel reception on 2F, café on 1F, restaurant on 2F. Accommodation reservations and other enquiries:https://www.uds-hotels.com/all-day-place/   

Julian Opie at  MAHO KUBOTA GALLERY 

MAHO KUBOTA GALLERY, located in Jingumae, an area of cultural crossover where Harajuku and Aoyama in Central Tokyo, will hold a solo exhibition of new paintings and new animations featuring  “Dance", by Julian Opie, one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists today. Opie uses pictograms and simple drawings and coloring reminiscent of anime to simplify the main artistic motifs of ancient times, such as landscapes and the human figure. This style of expression that employs minimal detail is continuing to garner support in both the art world and the broader cultural scene. Julian Opie will be visiting Japan for this exhibition.

Venue:2-4-7 Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo Japan    Period:10/21(Fri.)~11/26(Sat.)2022

Julian Opie. Dance 1 figure 1 step 2. 2022.

Vinyl on aluminium stretcher. 210 x 100 cm


The Future Eternal

A Lighthouse called Kanata, a contemporary art gallery that introduces Japanese artists to the world, is bringing together works by up-and-coming artists in The Future Eternal exhibition. Rather than following the transient trends of contemporary art, the highlight of the exhibition is the universal yet progressive abstract works that connect the past and the future. The exhibition will feature ambitious three-dimensional and two-dimensional works that combine materials and outstanding techniques to embellish contemporary spaces.

Venue:A LIGHTHOUSE CALLED KANATA  Kasumicho Terrace 6F, 3-24-20, Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku Tokyo     Period:10/21(Fri.)~10/29(Sat.)2022

emergence by Osamu Yokoyama (2022)

OMOTESANDO REPLICA

松田優と谷雄一郎によるデザインスタジオ「UO」が、2022年8月10日AM10:48に、表参道ヒルズ前の歩道の植込み(35°39‘59.6“N 139°42’35.6”E)で拾った枝を、2000本に複製し連結したアート作品。無限の空間のほんの一点と、刻々と変化し続ける時間の一点との唯一性を極大化しているこのオブジェクトが、表参道ヒルズの本館 吹抜け大階段に出現する。

会場:表参道ヒルズ 東京都渋谷区神宮前4-12-10 本館 吹抜け大階段


Tokyo Midtown will exhibit works of two creator groups featuring

“Design for Sustainable Future”

Venue: TOKYO MIDTOWN, Galleria 2F

in front of Aēsop store

9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

The series sea is an effort by ambi to realize the charm of STUDIO RELIGHT's activities through design, using recycled glass from waste fluorescent lamps that have been properly processed by STUDIO RELIGHT's parent company, Sawaya Co. The glass is molded from a lump of glass to maximize the uniqueness of color and bubbles of recycled glass. For some of the works, sand molds were used as casting molds, for texture, and to easily recycle after use. Each work represents different scenes of the “sea.”


“FLOW”- Fluid material cycle - by DAISUKE YAMAMOTO

Venue: TOKYO MIDTOWN, Galleria 2F in front of lucien pellat-finet, 9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

This project began with the awareness that everyday recyclable construction materials are disposed then new construction begins, so-called “scrap and build”. In this situation, he shed light on the most used and at the same time disposed material, LGS( Lightweight Gauge Steel ).This product series “FLOW” came to life from this process, challenging in realizing fluid material cycle that prevents any kind of industrial waste disposal.


DESIGNART TOKYO 2022  OFFICIAL PARTNERS

Perrier-Jouët is the Official Champagne of DESIGNART TOKYO 2022

Pernod Ricard Japan K.K.’s prestige Champagne house, Perrier-Jouët, will be sponsoring DESIGNART TOKYO 2022 again as the official champagne. Planted Air, a commissioned artwork by Garance Vallée, a French artist who has attracted attention for her mysterious worldview, will be exhibited at ISETAN SALONE (Tokyo Midtown, 1st floor) during the event. The world premiere of the artwork will be accompanied by a limited-edition collaboration product, Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs by Garance Vallée, which will be on sale at the venue. Union Square Tokyo (Tokyo Midtown B1F) will also host a by-the-glass fair for Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs.


BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE 5 stores become Official Cafes of DESIGNART TOKYO 2022

The five BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE cafes in Aoyama, Roppongi, Ginza, Hiroo, and Shibuya, become official cafes where you can stop by during your stroll of exhibitions, of DESIGNART TOKYO 2022. If you show the official DESIGNART Instagram account at the cashier during the exhibition, you will receive a piece of "Blue Bottle Yokan," (Japanese traditional sweets by bean paste shop in Horikawa Sanjo, Kyoto for over 60 years) that goes well with coffee, for every drink ordered. You can take it home or enjoy it at the cafe while enjoying design and art exhibitions.

"Taroma," an aroma brand from Toyama Prefecture, and designer Ryuya Yamada will present a glass aroma diffuser at AOYAMA cafe. The exhibition Wind Whisperer: Confiding the Wind by Studio POETIC CURIOSITY will be held at Shibuya Cafe and Kitaya Park. Viewers can experience that the words of their thoughts and feelings whispered into this interactive work, will be transformed into bubbles and blown away. Roppongi Cafe will exhibit DIG-DUG, a new work by Atsushi Shindo, who is engaged in the design of commercial facilities as an interior designer while also presenting interior objects and artworks from his personal projects.

Studio POETIC CURIOSITY photo by Mina Asaba

※Please note that all other cafes are not eligible for this offer.

For more information about Designart Tokyo, please visit: https://designart.jp/

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Art Week of Tokyo - Citywide initiative showcases Tokyo’s leading art spaces

Art Week Tokyo is inaugurating an expanded edition this November in collaboration with Art Basel. Organized by Japan Contemporary Art Platform with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Art Week Tokyo Mobile Project Organizing Committee, with support from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, Art Week Tokyo is scheduled for November 3–6, 2022, with VIP events starting on November 1.

After holding a successful soft-launch edition that welcomed more than 20,000 visitors across 50 participating spaces in 2021, Art Week Tokyo is inaugurating an expanded edition this November in collaboration with Art Basel. Organized by Japan Contemporary Art Platform with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Art Week Tokyo Mobile Project Organizing Committee, with support from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, Art Week Tokyo is scheduled for November 3–6, 2022, with VIP events starting on November 1.

This year’s edition of Art Week Tokyo will feature an expanded line-up of participants and events, offering four days of coordinated programming across 52 of Tokyo’s leading museums, galleries, and alternative spaces. In addition, Art Week Tokyo will feature a wider range of VIP events and programs as well as a new, free mobile app with custom maps and real-time updates. All participating venues will once again be connected via a complimentary bus service. As Tokyo’s most ambitious citywide initiative for contemporary art to date, Art Week Tokyo will make one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic art scenes more accessible than ever before.


Atsuko Ninagawa, Cofounder and Director of Art Week Tokyo and Owner and Director of Take Ninagawa, said:
“Art Week Tokyo is a celebration of the diversity, resilience, and conviviality of Tokyo’s art scene. The enthusiastic response from participating venues and the tremendous support we have received from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Agency for Cultural Affairs reflects a commitment across all levels of the art community to come together to grow our art ecosystem and enhance its accessibility to broad audiences for contemporary art. The organizational expertise of the Art Basel team has been invaluable in helping us produce an event that will make Tokyo one of the leading destinations for contemporary art in Asia and beyond.”

Photo by Katsuhiro Saiki

About Atsuko Ninagawa

Atsuko Ninagawa is the owner and director of the gallery Take Ninagawa, Tokyo, and the co-founder and director of Art Week Tokyo. Established in 2008, Take Ninagawa is dedicated to promoting emerging and historically significant Japanese artists in a cross-generational, international framework, and to organizing projects with international artists that respond to the Japanese context. Atsuko Ninagawa is on the selection committee of Art Basel Hong Kong and is one of the collaborators behind South South, a new platform for art from the Global South that launched in February 2021.


Adeline Ooi, Director Asia of Art Basel, said:
“We are delighted to renew our collaboration with Art Week Tokyo for this citywide celebration of Tokyo’s thriving arts and cultural scene. Extending our support of this initiative is a natural next step aligned with our deep appreciation for Tokyo’s art and gallery community, and our long-term commitment to strengthening the flourishing art ecosystems across Asia."

A website with full details about participating venues and programs will launch in September 2022.

For the latest updates, follow Art Week Tokyo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Award Winning Artist Lucas Zanotto Launches First Solo Exhibition, MOODS, in Shanghai

Italian designer, director, and artist Lucas Zanotto brings delightful kinetic characters to life in his first solo exhibition, MOODS, opening December 28th at the historical former St. Mary’s Hall in Shanghai. Hosted by M:87, the multimedia exhibition taps into a new space in the art world, combining life sized physical sculptures with a medley of digital techniques including an augmented reality (AR) installation in collaboration with Acute Art.

Italian designer, director, and artist Lucas Zanotto brings delightful kinetic characters to life in his first solo exhibition, MOODS, opening December 28th at the historical former St. Mary’s Hall in Shanghai. Hosted by M:87, the multimedia exhibition taps into a new space in the art world, combining life sized physical sculptures with a medley of digital techniques including an augmented reality (AR) installation in collaboration with Acute Art.  


A winner of international art and design accolades including the Cannes Golden Lion and the Apple Design Award, Lucas has directed numerous animations and films. He has collaborated with artists including KAWS, Josh Sperling and Felipe Pantone, and worked with brands including Google, Amazon, to name a few. Having ventured in the NFT world a few years ago, Zanotto now brings his iconic digital work into the physical art realm with his very first exhibition.

Flipping Mood, CGI Animation, 2021, source: Lucas Zanotto

It’s an honor to be debuting my first solo exhibition in Shanghai with M:87. Following Covid-19 mandated restrictions that have left artists and art lovers across the world stuck at home, I’m beyond grateful that my immersive exhibition can be experienced in person and in real time. From CGI animation and blackbox projections to AR installations and life-size sculptures, there is a medium for everyone to enjoy in MOODS.
— said Zanotto.

Playground, CGI Animation, 2021, source: Lucas Zanotto

Behind the artist’s comforting and relaxed artworks lie profound insights into the digital age. An expert in digital art, Zanotto masterfully melds a simple design language with a playful color collection and captivating kinetic motion to deliver works of indescribable spiritual delight. He is best known for his big-eyed kinetic sculpture characters and animated loops, which have taken social media by storm. In the past year, Zanotto has made waves in the NFT world, using the crypto market to spread joy through his lovable geometric characters.

In MOODS, Zanotto constructs a multidimensional event using modeling, materials, and renderings. The contemporary exhibition will be held at the historical St. Mary’s Hall in Shanghai, a former Christian girls school dating back to 1881. 

St. Mary's Hall

Historical St. Mary’s Hall in Shanghai, a former Christian girls school dating back to 1881. 

The exhibition space is divided into seven zones encompassing CGI animation, sculpture,  installation, projection, public art, AR artwork, art merchandise, and more. From life-size fiberglass sculptures displayed in the church halls to charming AR characters that can be viewed from different vantage points, audiences can fully engage their senses and immerse themselves in the multimedia experience that is MOODS.

 Visitors will be welcomed by six meter tall character balloons on the lawn outside of the church, while Zanotto’s signature “eyes” will greet visitors from the church’s windows and curtain door. Inside the church halls, showcased within nine stunning arches will be the artist’s signature kinetic videos played on loop. At the end of the hall will be a specially curated black box, an immersive room which guests can enter to be surrounded and mesmerized by Zanotto’s iconic animation projections. Integral to Zanotto’s works, music is combined with each animation in order to bring audiences visual and auditory comfort. Installations like “Watery Eyes” will allow visitors to interact with and appreciate the art in another medium. 

 

Take Home MOODS Merchandise

 Created specially for this exhibition are 50 sets of limited edition MOODS sculptures featuring five of Lucas Zanotto’s iconic animation characters, “Ehhh,” “Ohhh,” “Mhhh,” “Uhhh,” and “Ahhh”. 20 limited edition wooden versions of the sculptures will also be available for purchase on a first come first serve basis. Take home and call this adorable collection your own along with a special NFT certificate backed by EchoX. Specially designed and available for sale at the exhibition also include MOODS merchandise such as tote bags, clocks, mood tower prints, and magnets.

The limited edition mini MOODS sculpture sets and the full range of merchandise will also be available worldwide via www.m87inno.com and on the M:87 WeChat page, M87art. 

 M:87 Presents Lucas Zanotto’s MOODS

Date: 28th December - 23rd January 2021

VIP and media preview day: 27th December 

Time: Tuesday-Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday-Sunday 10 am-7pm

Location: Raffles City, Changning, Shanghai

For more information on M:87 and MOODS, including exhibition details, address and opening hours, please visit http://www.m87inno.com.

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Japanese Artist Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED launches a Global Scale Artwork Connecting the World's Prayers for Peace

Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED: the artist and founder of the Tokyo based creative company NAKED, INC., has launched a new art initiative Breath/Bless Project. The Project aims to install his digitally augmented artwork Dandelion in multiple locations around the globe to create an interactive artwork that connects people’s prayers for world peace. Although Muramatsu is known for his many works incorporating interaction and communication in projection mapping spectacles and immersive art exhibitions as creative director of NAKED, INC., this is the first time for him to present an artwork that connects internationally in real time.

Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED: the artist and founder of the Tokyo based creative company NAKED, INC., has launched a new art initiative Breath/Bless Project. The Project aims to install his digitally augmented artwork Dandelion in multiple locations around the globe to create an interactive artwork that connects people’s prayers for world peace. Although Muramatsu is known for his many works incorporating interaction and communication in projection mapping spectacles and immersive art exhibitions as creative director of NAKED, INC., this is the first time for him to present an artwork that connects internationally in real time.

Our world has changed in so many ways since the beginning of 2020, and difficult times continue. People all over the globe, from every background, wish fervently for a better world. It is my hope that our shared adversity will not divide us but will, instead, bring us closer together.

This artwork is alive.

As more Dandelion installations are set up around the world and more people participate, their many prayers will connect within this large and ever-expanding artwork.

Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED

Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED

Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED

A Public Art that Connects Cities and Creates a Network of Unity

Breath/Bless Project aims to install Ryotaro Muramatsu’s Dandelion in locations around the world. Dandelion is an interactive artwork that evokes the feeling one gets from making a wish on a dandelion. When the viewer blows a breath on the Dandelion installation, the fluff floats away, eventually landing on the ground and producing a new flower. Breath / Bless Project will not only install Dandelion artworks in real locations but will also have a platform online. This way, Dandelion can be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the world. People’s prayers for peace will connect both physically through the installations, as well as virtually on the online platform. For example, when someone in Paris blows their breath on an online Dandelion, the fluff will float to Tokyo and produce a new, beautiful flower at a real Dandelion installation in Tokyo. As more installations are set up around the world and more people participate, their many prayers will connect within this large and ever-expanding artwork. Real locations and the virtual world synchronize, as the network itself, which connects the many prayers, becomes the artwork.

The Journey begins in Tokyo and Singapore

In early November 2020, Breath / Bless Project will reveal its first series of Dandelion installations at multiple locations in and outside of Japan. Planned locations are Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Station area, Moomin Valley Park in Saitama, and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. In accordance with protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this particular series of installations will replace the interactive “blowing” element with a sensor that responds to physical gestures. The project will be offering special content such as virtual tours through Gardens by the Bay, for participants who support the project through its fundraising campaign.

Breath / Bless Project Fundraising Campaign: https://camp-fire.jp/en/projects/view/314807

The Inspiration Behind Breath / Bless Project

After the Paris Attacks in 2015, Ryotaro Muramatsu developed the concept of Breath / Bless Project, which calls for the placement of Dandelion installations at monuments of peace around the world. He believed that even sites which remind us of a tragic history could be connected with the world’s prayers for peace and bring out smiles and hope for the future. 

This year, as the world becomes ever more divided in many different ways, is the perfect time to deliver the fundamental message of peace. “I believe that this artwork can bring out the kindness in people, as it reminds us of the pure, simple childhood feeling we all remember and can relate to beyond the constraints of race, nationality, or belief”, says Muramatsu. 

“In past years, I have created works that integrate virtual and real, digital and analog; what I wish to offer the world today is an artwork that transcends barriers to unite people’s hearts. Flowers need no words. They are completely impartial. Their seeds fly to new places and bloom there. Through this art, I hope to spread this spirit, to plant flowers of peace throughout the world.”

How to be a Part of Breath Bless / Project

Find out more about how to enjoy this artwork from your own city and how you can support this global scale art project through Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED and NAKED, INC.’s official platforms.

-Official project website: https://breathbless.com/

-Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/breathbless.project/

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathbless.project

-Fundraising platform: https://camp-fire.jp/en/projects/view/314807

-NAKED, INC. official website: https://naked.co.jp

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 Helsinki Design Week celebrates design in September 2020

One of the largest design festivals in the Nordic countries with children and families, The 16th annual Helsinki Design Week is held from now until 13 September 2020. The festival events will again spread throughout the city: from museums to markets, from seminar halls to secret shops, from studios to showrooms and from offline to online events and encounters.

One of the largest design festival in the Nordic countries with children and families

HDW2020_Poster_4_Stadium.jpg

The 16th annual Helsinki Design Week is held from now until 13 September 2020. The festival events will again spread throughout the city: from museums to markets, from seminar halls to secret shops, from studios to showrooms and from offline to online events and encounters. 

Helsinki Design Week is a series of responsibly organized events of varying sizes. It is not a festival at one single venue holding thousands of visitors. With regards to possible restrictions on venues or visitors due to the international health crisis, the festival has the means and opportunity to multiply into smaller events or use new digital methods of exhibiting content. 

Helsinki Design Week’s statement for 2020 is Commitment Matters – a theme that raises questions regarding the meaning and value of designing. The phrase is a stimulus for thought, and the theme is meant to be used as a tool for everyone taking part in the festival: the event organizers, the exhibitors, the seminar speakers and the visitors. The leading partner of the festival, the City of Helsinki, is supporting the safe and responsible organization of the festival. 

The festival visuals celebrate the legendary Helsinki Olympic Stadium, combining its functionalistic architecture with vivid and energetic colours from the athletic world. Historic photos from the 1940s will highlight the design and history of the restored monument. 

The main venue: the Olympic Stadium 

The main venue of Helsinki Design Week will be the Olympic Stadium. With its large and airy spaces, it is a perfect spot for safe encounters. The stadium is open on 11–13 September for guided tours and for Children’s Design Weekend. 

The Stadium is also home to the main exhibition, a series of installations on design, architecture and fashion, presenting interesting design from unique pieces to large scale setups. A review of top young designers is not to be missed. The Olympic Stadium will also host an event that may well become the biggest PechaKucha Night ever held. The evening of September 12 is reserved for 10 presentations, each less than 7 minutes long. The idea of PechaKucha, Japanese for “chit chat”, is simple: 20 slides and 20 seconds of commentary on a theme chosen by the presenter.

Helsinki Design Week’s programme for children develops an understanding of architecture and design.

Helsinki Design Week continues the festival tradition of a dedicated programme for children and families for the seventh consecutive year. A sports-themed Children’s Design Weekend 12–13 September takes place at the renovated and modernized Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Children’s Design Week at Annantalo 7–13 September focuses on design workshops. Schools familiarize learners with design through PechaKucha presentations with a toolkit produced by Helsinki Design Week.

“Our programme for children offers such activities for the whole family that makes architecture and design familiar to citizens from childhood onwards. Thus we guide them to observe their built environment with a critical eye,” says Helsinki Design Week Programme Director Anni Korkman.

https://www.helsinkidesignweek.com/festival

Helsinki Design Week (HDW) produces the children’s programme, as well as all other programme content, in partnership with external event organizers. All children’s events are free of charge.

Children are guests of honour at Olympic Stadium.

A part of Helsinki Design Week’s in-house production, HDW Children’s Design Weekend is held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on 12–13 September. The weekend features a route designed for children and built on the famous green of the Olympic Stadium. The route’s five playful sports sites combine sports and art, making design visible at the same time. Parents can join their children’s sports performances with instructions stored in QR codes. At the end of the route, children make their trophies and pose with them on the podium. The trophy materials are available on the Helsinki Design Week website so that the programme can be duplicated at home. 

As a part of Helsinki Design Week’s COVID-19 safety guidelines, registration is required to attend this free event.

Workshops at Annantalo

Annantalo, the City of Helsinki arts centre for children, young people and families, celebrates Children’s Design Week 7–13 September with nature- and future-themed programme.

Workshops on the themes are held at Annantalo for groups from schools and daycare centres. For example, 5th graders can create art with soil materials at the Annantalo yard in a workshop that combines mythology, architecture, art and biosciences. 

A forest installation has been erected at the Annantalo yard: trunks of trees from thinning forest operations have been used to create a playful space resembling a forest. Three exhibitions on display inside the arts centre focus on ecology, the environment and the bond between a mother and her baby.

Most of the workshops are held outdoors. Safety is ensured indoors with sufficient distances maintained between occupants. Some of the workshops require registration.

Children’s Design Week at Annantalo

PechaKucha at schools

Learners at Helsinki comprehensive schools follow a Culture Path from one grade to the next. The path includes suggestions for cultural contents for each grade, and every learner should make at least one cultural visit in a year. 

“Culture Path ensures that every learner has an opportunity to be familiarized with various cultural contents and cultural operators during their basic education,” says Pedagogical Specialist Panu Hatanpää of the City of Helsinki Education Division.

“Familiarizing learners with culture through Culture Path visits is part of new creative learning at Helsinki schools, and it is closely linked to familiarizing learners with design and design thinking,” Hatanpää emphasizes and points out that design is included in Culture Path contents.

There are no visits by school groups to Helsinki Design Week events this year. Visits are replaced by a toolkit produced by Helsinki Design Week for organizing PechaKucha presentations, one of the Design Week’s essential programme items. PechaKucha is a form of storytelling, in which the presenter talks about a topic with 20 images, 20 seconds about each.

“PechaKucha is a good method for learners to practice making a presentation in front of an audience and to talk about topics of importance to them. For the audience, PechaKucha is a good method to practice listening,” Hatanpää says. 

Helsinki Design Week’s PechaKucha toolkit is freely available to all. (Please note that the toolkit content is in Finnish only). 

Design education in Helsinki

Design education is also in focus at Design Museum: A&DO Learning Centre for Architecture and Design organizes DesignLab: Mini Jam at the museum and online on 11 September. Talks by specialists and design-themed jamming shed light on future architecture and design learning and on the tone that public participation brings to urban design. The City of Helsinki supports the event.

“Helsinki has been a pioneer in architecture and design education for many years,” says Chief Design Officer Hanna Harris of the City of Helsinki. “We have several teachers and schools in Helsinki dedicated to the theme.”

For example, the Arabia Comprehensive School teaches design as part of creative problem solving that crosses subject boundaries, and the methods of design education are used in all subjects on grades 1–9. The Kruununhaka Comprehensive School for grades 7–9 offers a design track for local students.

“The City of Helsinki has joined forces with design organizations and projects to develop contents for architecture and design education for use by teachers, and we have participated in varied design collaborations. Our next step is to develop long-ranging activities within the City organization,” Harris asserts.“ I consider the following to be of very high importance: architecture and design education provides children and young people with means for creative problem solving and for the development of their identity. They learn to comprehend their neighbourhoods, to understand planning and various materials, and they obtain tools to participate in building our joint future.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.helsinkidesignweek.com/festival/



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