DESIGN /
PRODUCT
April 3, 2015
At 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, the exhibition 'Towards the Realization of a Museum of Design in Japan'
Considering the Role of a 21st-Century Design Museum
Japan's Design Museum Project Exhibition at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT
The exhibition 'Japan's Design Museum Project' explores the role expected of a 21st-century design museum, a hub for design, from the perspectives of the past, present, and future. It is being held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, located within Tokyo Midtown Garden, until Sunday, February 9, 2014.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Exploring the Appeal and Importance of Design Through Past Exhibitions
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, established in 2007, serves as a platform for diverse expressions and proposals from a design perspective. It is directed by three distinguished designers: Issey Miyake, a fashion designer; Taku Satoh, a graphic designer; and Naoto Fukasawa, a product designer.
To date, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT has hosted 23 ambitious exhibitions, including 'Tadao Ando: 2006, The Challenge' and 'Chocolate,' examining design from various angles. By also focusing on educational programs like talks and workshops, it has fostered momentum for the establishment of a design museum. The current exhibition, 'Japan's Design Museum Project,' reconstructs past exhibitions to contemplate the future possibilities of design, which is deeply intertwined with our lives, culture, and society.
The venue is organized into categories such as 'MAKING' (craftsmanship), 'FINDING' (discovering the mechanisms of objects and concepts), 'LINKING' (connecting local communities to the world), and 'CREATING' (exploring the expressions of master designers like Kazumasa Tanaka, a pioneer of Japanese graphic design). By revisiting past exhibitions held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, the exhibition delves into the appeal and significance of design.
The 'Japan's Design Museum Project Exhibition' is being held to build momentum for the establishment of Japan's first design museum. Design, which permeates all aspects of our lives, also drives industrial development and contributes to greater prosperity. This exhibition is sure to make visitors realize the necessity of a place to pass on Japan's unique and the world's excellent design culture to future generations, and a space to contemplate the potential of design.
'Japan's Design Museum Project Exhibition'
Exhibition Dates: October 25 (Fri) – February 9, 2014 (Closed Tuesdays and December 27 – January 3)
Hours: 11:00 – 20:00
Venue: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT
9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, within Tokyo Midtown Garden
Tel. 03-3475-2121
Admission: General ¥1000, University Students ¥800, Junior/Senior High School Students ¥500, Elementary School Students and younger free