Image courtesy of Manchester Art Gallery
Modern Japanese Design at Manchester Art Gallery
Thirty two designers display over one hundred pieces in a dynamic display conveying the essence of the unique Japanese design ethos. Drawn from Manchester’s own collections, the show provides an overview of the past fifty years of Japanese design. It highlights the breadth of Manchester’s collections, bringing together fashion, furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, metalwork and jewellery.
Image courtesy of Manchester Art Gallery
The exhibition, located in the refurbished 19th century former Athenaeum theatre space, includes works from thirty two designers with over one hundred pieces on display. It shows how respect for nature and natural forces and the innovative use of materials and revolutionary techniques have influenced Japanese design. The display also reveals the importance of philosophical and spiritual ideas derived from Buddhism that have influenced the aesthetic and conceptual direction of Japanese design through the approaches of minimalism, deconstruction, and wabi sabi.
Image courtesy of Manchester Art Gallery
In addition to traditional materials, designers’ use of man-made, more commercial materials such as steel mesh, polycarbonate and recycled materials, seen in the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles used by Issey Miyake, is explored. Some of the most contemporary pieces on display are created by recent Royal College of Art graduate Maiko Takeda, who now works for Issey Miyake in Japan. Takeda created the dramatic headresses worn by Bjork as part of her Biophilia tour and the display includes two stunning head pieces from her Atmospheric Reentry series.
Image courtesy of Manchester Art Gallery
Featured contemporary jewellery designer Mizuki Takahashi’s work will be on sale in the gallery shop as part of a brand new range of jewellery focusing on makers who are inspired to push the boundaries of the materials they work with.
Manchester Art Gallery
Until 31 January 2017
more. manchesterartgallery.org
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