DESIGN /
PRODUCT
December 19, 2014
ifs Future Lab | Presentation of "Future Archetype Wood Color" and "Future Japanese Tea" Exhibits
ifs Future Lab
Presenting research on "Inconvenient, Yet Comfortable" items developed over the past year
Exhibition: "Future Archaeology Wood Color," "Future Japanese Tea"
The ifs Future Lab, headed by Yoko Kawashima, Marketing Manager at Itochu Fashion System, will present the independent research conducted over the past year by its members: Tsuyoshi Tane (DGT), Tamae Hirokawa of Soma Design, and Takeshi Fukui. The exhibition opens October 25 (Saturday).
Text by Makoto KAJII (OPENERS)
Research Theme: "Future Archaeology Wood Color" - Tsuyoshi Tane (DGT)
Architect Tsuyoshi Tane presents "Future Archaeology Wood Color," exploring the theme of "considering the future from antiquity." As a member of the ifs Future Lab for the past year, he has researched "inconvenient, yet comfortable" objects. This exhibition showcases an experimental display combining "Japanese wood" and "Japanese colors."
Tsuyoshi Tane shares his thoughts:
“The traditional wooden vessels of Yamanaka lacquerware, known as 'Kiji no Yamanaka,' have been passed down for 400 years. Alongside this, we have the art of plant dyeing, which uses grasses, trees, flowers, and roots from Japan's rich nature to create living colors.—.
We believe that our future lies beyond the relationships between people, nature, and objects that have been carefully crafted, used, repaired, and passed down through time.”
Research Theme: "Future Japanese Tea" - Soma Design (Tamae Hirokawa / Takeshi Fukui)
The ifs Future Lab's annual theme, "Inconvenient, Yet Comfortable," refers to things that are richer and resonate more deeply with the human heart.—Tamae Hirokawa and Takeshi Fukui approached Japanese tea—meticulously prepared over time—as one such "inconvenient, yet comfortable" item, enjoyable through the five senses, encompassing its color, aroma, taste, temperature, and variety.
From its origins in beautiful nature to the final, delicious cup, the journey of tea is filled with stories. This exhibition explores the background of this careful craftsmanship and the world of Japanese tea from a design perspective, offering an output that engages the senses.
"Future Archaeology Wood Color": Tsuyoshi Tane (DGT)
"Future Japanese Tea": Soma Design (Tamae Hirokawa / Takeshi Fukui)
Dates: October 25 (Saturday) – November 3 (Monday)
Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 (Until 20:00 on October 25 and November 3)
Venue: ifs Future Lab Salon WORK WORK SHOP
2F, CI Plaza, 2-3-1 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
ifs Future Lab
http://ifs-miraiken.jp/
Tsuyoshi TANE
Architect. Born in Tokyo in 1979. In 2006, he co-founded the Paris-based architectural firm DGT with Dan Dorell and Lina Ghotmeh.
He gained international attention for winning the international competition for the Estonian National Museum (scheduled for completion in 2016) in 2006, and for his "Kofun Stadium" design being selected as a finalist in the 2012 New National Stadium Competition.
Currently, he has projects underway in France, Switzerland, Lebanon, and Japan. He has received numerous awards, including the French Ministry of Culture's Prize for Promising Young Architects (2008), the Red Dot Award (2013), and two awards at the Milan Design Award (2014). Since 2012, he has been an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University GSAPP.
Tamae HIROKAWA
Creative Director / Fashion Designer, SOMA DESIGN. Began activities as "SOMA DESIGN" in 2006, launching the design project [SOMARTA] concurrently. In the same year, she presented the bodywear series "Skin Series" based on the concept of "the potential of clothing on the body." She received the 25th Mainichi Fashion Grand Prize for New Designers and the Shiseido Encouragement Prize. She has presented installation works at the Canon [NEOREAL] exhibition (Milan, 2008) and Mercedes-Benz [SOMARTA x smart fortwo “Thunderbird”] (Tokyo, 2012). She designed the uniforms for the Shiseido comprehensive beauty facility "SHISEIDO THE GINZA" (2012) and "CLÉ DE PEAU BEAUTÉ" (2013).
Takeshi FUKUI
Visual Creator, SOMA DESIGN. In 2006, he began various visual direction and design activities in fields such as fashion, products, sound, and video. He handles show production and art direction for the brand [SOMARTA].
He was responsible for the spatial composition of the Canon [NEOREAL] exhibition and the TOYOTA [iQ×SOMARTA MICROCOSMOS] exhibition (2008). He created campaign and product artwork for UNIQLO [UT×SOMA DESIGN] and Onitsuka Tiger CELEBRATING 60YEARS "ZODIAC" (2009). He developed the [BITOWA DÉCOR] and [BITOWA modern] lines for the lacquerware brand BITOWA (2010), and the "Tray Series" products for the new Takaoka copperware brand KANAYA (2012). In 2012, he launched "femozióne designed by SOMA DESIGN" with legwear manufacturer Fukuske.