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Art in Japan>Architecture & Design>Designs of the Times Original articles on art, artists, architecture, exhibitions, galleries, museums and cultural institutions around Tokyo, Japan. Designs of the Timesby John McGee  cbi Soft Transport toys, designed by Bjorn Dahlstrom In a city where closets are considered a luxury, good interior design is essential. Design—art’s pragmatic twin—fits into everyone’s life, whether by choice or by accident. Over the next few weeks, a trio of events—Tokyo Designer’s Week, Swedish Style, and Tokyo Designer’s Block—support the “choice” side by triangulating the current state of interior design, fashion, art, architecture, photography, music and more. In a boon to design fans and shoppers, the three shows are coordinating their schedules for the first time, saturating the city with the latest efforts from Japanese mainstream, Swedish contemporary, and international cutting-edge designers. The annual Tokyo Designer’s Week (TDW), the oldest of the three, started in 1988 to promote good design. The focus is more traditional and commercial—over 60 companies (like Alessi, Cassina, Herman Miller), embassies (Spain, UK, etc.) and schools (like Vantan) will take part—but not boring. In TDW’s biggest event this year, chairs from over 120 of Japan’s best designers go on display in Karajan Plaza, a large outdoor space in Akasaka’s Ark Hills office complex. You can also judge Japan’s future designers by the seat of your pants at Triton Square in Harumi where designers from ten different schools will show their stuff at a student version of the Ark Hills project. Tokyo Designer’s Block (TDB), organized by interiors company Idée, focuses on small shops and hip new ideas from designers like Ron Arad, Nick Dine (son of artist Jim Dine) and Marc Newson. To encourage young creative talent and preview their ideas, TDB has organized a series of competitions and projects on view at various locations around town. The Tokyo Space Award honors the best commercial space built or renovated in the past year. House as Furniture (at Aoyama La Place and Children’s Castle in Shibuya) explores new types of housing, especially mobile units and pre-fabs. A universal design project, When I’m 64, will introduce ideas and solutions for the elderly and physically-challenged. The annual Idée Design Competition promotes the next generation of designers by producing and exhibiting winners’ designs in the Spiral Building. And to show your own good design sense publicly, slip into something from the Designers’ T-shirts contest. “Informal, inspiring and stimulating” are the keywords of Swedish Style, a celebration of contemporary Swedish culture. While TDW and TDB emphasize furniture and interior design, Swedish Style is, as expected, a smorgasbord of art, architecture, fashion, film, photography and music spread over two weeks. The inspiration of Ewa Kumlin, wife of the Swedish ambassador, Swedish Style debuted in 1999 as a way to strengthen Swedish-Japanese cultural ties and exchanges. Though it was a tasty appetizer with 15 events, this year’s full course menu includes 200 participants and over 50 events at locations throughout the city—Hillside Forum, Watarium Museum’s bookstore, Milk, Saatchi & Saatchi Gallery, etc. Check out Swedish Night at club CODE in Shinjuku, featuring Swedish DJ Adam Beyer and a fashion show. Or select from lectures on computer game design or food, or performances of traditional music at the Swedish Embassy. To top it all off, Crown Princess Victoria, on her first trip to Japan, will inaugurate the events. Most of these events are more likely to exacerbate than remedy the closet problem. Nonetheless, they just might help you live a bit more beautifully. www.tdwa.com These exhibitions were held in Oct 2001 at various venues around Tokyo, Japan. ©2007 John McGee |
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