Unraveling the Past, Present, and Future of Swiss Design

Beautiful Swiss design, born from the Swiss temperament that favors practicality and functionality, embraces the warmth of craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty while merging tradition with the latest technology. This exhibition, held in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland, unfolds around seven themes. It carefully examines the diverse designs that have been disseminated worldwide, from the dawn of modern design and its flourishing in the mid-20th century to the present day, to unravel the essence of Swiss design.

The first theme to capture attention is "Swiss Brand Manufacturing and Design." This section showcases works that fully express the design philosophies of eight representative Swiss brands, including "Bally," "USM," "Victorinox," and "Swatch."

The "Present State of Swiss Design" section introduces the work of 19 pioneering designers who are pushing the boundaries of design, selected from recent recipients of Swiss Design Awards.

Furthermore, the "Le Corbusier and Swiss Design" section explores Swiss characteristics by focusing on the master of modern architecture, Le Corbusier, and re-examining Swiss design. The chapter on "Max Bill and the Philosophy of Modern Design," which highlights his significant contributions to modern design after studying at the Bauhaus, offers a profound opportunity to understand the philosophy surrounding functionality, beauty, and the social responsibility of design, alongside graphic design, architecture, furniture, and watches.

In addition, four gallery talks will be held during the exhibition period, inviting various guests to discuss Swiss design from multiple perspectives. Don't miss this valuable exhibition that reveals the rationality and universality of Swiss design, loved worldwide for its consistent style.

Swiss Design Exhibition
Dates | January 17 (Saturday) - March 29 (Sunday)
Hours | 11:00 - 19:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 20:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Venue | Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, 3F Gallery 1, 2
3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Closed | Mondays, February 8 (Sunday)
Admission | General ¥1200 (¥1000), University/High School Students ¥1000 (¥800), Junior High School Students and younger free. (*Prices in parentheses are for groups of 15 or more.)
Tel. 03-5777-8600
http://www.operacity.jp/ag/exh172/

Gallery Talk Schedule
1st Session | January 25 (Sunday) "Le Corbusier and Swiss Design"
Guest | Misa Hayashi (Curator, Taisei Corporation Gallery Taisei)
2nd Session | February 1 (Sunday) "Swiss Graphic Design"
Guest | Yuko Hashimoto (Chief Curator, Utsunomiya Museum of Art)
3rd Session | February 7 (Saturday) "Portraits of Swiss Modern Design"
Guest | Koichi Yanagimoto (Design Director, Glyph. Representative)
4th Session | February 15 (Sunday) "The Present of Swiss Design: Walking the Forefront"
Guest | Takahiro Tsuchida (Design Journalist)
Time | 14:00 - 15:00 each session
Venue | Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Gallery 1, 2 exhibition spaces
*No reservation required (however, a valid admission ticket for the day is necessary). Entry may be restricted depending on the number of participants on the day.