‘Lexus L-finesse - crystallised wind -’
Lexus art exhibition comes to Milan Design Week
Following its successful participation in previous years, Lexus will be returning to the 2009
Milan Design Week with an art exhibition entitled ‘Lexus L-finesse - crystallised wind -’ , a
combination of Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy and the very finest in contemporary art,
architecture and design elements from Japan.
The exhibition will take place in Milan’s Museo della Permanente art gallery, from April 22nd to
26th , as part of the world’s largest design exhibition, the Salone del Mobile di Milano.
Sou Fujimoto, a ground-breaking Japanese architect, will re-interpret the ambivalence of the
Lexus design philosophy ‘L-finesse’ through a dynamic installation that combines unity in space,
sound and lighting.
“Crystallised wind is the result of a conceptual interpretation of the underlying principles of Lfinesse
design”, explains Sou Fujimoto. “The term wind addresses not only the flow of wind, but
also symbolises a flow or current in a greater sense. It is a new horizon where the natural and the
artificial coexist in space. I wanted to find a way to give form to that which is formless: to take the
flow of air and the passing of time and to represent them in such a way as to explain the essence
of the duality of L-finesse. The result is an art form that represents movement yet stillness, and the
flow of time in a timeless environment.”
The Lexus space will display an acrylic art piece based on the full-size concept car model, the
Lexus super sports concept car, the LF-A as well as a specially designed piece of furniture
constructed from acrylic.
Lexus has participated in the Milan Design Week since 2005 based on the conviction that
pursuing the L-finesse message through different artists and fields brings new standards and
transcends conventional ideas. This year marks the Lexus participation in this event where
traditions and innovations of designs cross each other.
“L-finesse design is much more than a surface approach and is certainly not confined to
automotive design, we are trying to look much deeper than that, we use the Japanese influence
in that way.” Said Wahei Hirai, Managing Officer of Design Center, “That is also why we like to
collaborate with leading artists and designers instead of just working with our own automotive
designers. This way, we inspire each other and we can go much more in depth. However, even if
we keep the same consistency at the same time we change the way we represent our design
philosophy over the time.”
Design & Art Exhibition Details: Lexus L-finesse ‘- crystallised wind -’
Address: Museo della Permanente, Via Filippo Turati 34, 20,121 Milan
Dates: April 22ndtill 26th , 2009 - Press preview and opening reception on April, the 21st
Exhibited works: 1/ Machined and moulded acrylic model based on the Lexus LF-A, an ultra-high performance
sports concept car designed by Lexus
2/ Furniture piece specially designed for Lexus and made from acrylic
Furniture and installation designed by Sou Fujimoto, planning and direction by Lexus
Website: www.lexus-europe.com/milandesignweek/
Artist Profile : Sou Fujimoto
Sou Fujimoto was born in Hokkaido in 1971. He studied architecture at the Engineering School of Tokyo University
before founding Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2000. Recognised by the AR Awards for Emerging Young Architects
in 2005 and 2006, he was awarded the Grand Prize in 2007, and himself became a jury member in 2008.
Several further awards have contributed to the burgeoning international recognition of Sou Fujimoto’s work: in
2008, he won both the JIA Architecture Grand Prize and the World Architecture Festival Private House
Category. He has been elected to the Design Vanguard by the international journal Architectural Record, and
recently received the Wallpaper magazine 2009 Design Award. Sou Fujimoto’s own, 2008 publication, Primitive
Future, has been widely recognised for its contribution to the fields of architecture and design.
L-finesse Design
L-finesse is an acronym of “Leading-edge” and “finesse”, two factors that define both the history, and future of the
Lexus brand. Drawing from Japanese aesthetic values, L-finesse creates a unique dynamism based on the visual
contrast between the purity of simplicity and the depth of “intriguing elegance”. Seamless anticipation, a major facet
of L-Finesse, also adds a sense of individual presence to all Lexus design, by creating a personal and individual
experience for each and every customer.
LF-A high-performance concept car
Combining the cutting-edge technology and the outstanding driving dynamics of a two-seat sportscar, the
LF-A concept car is more than merely a radical statement of supercar performance. Incorporating the
very latest developments in high-performance engineering technology, with the core values of the Lfinesse
design philosophy, the LF-A redefines the boundaries of the ultra-high performance sportscar
landscape. With a chassis and bodywork made out of carbon fibre and aluminium, the LF-A also features a
lightweight, all-alloy V10 powerplant capable of developing more that 500 DIN hp from a cubic capacity
of less than 5.0 litres. Allied to optimum gearing, weight and aerodynamics, the drivetrain is designed to
afford the vehicle a maximum speed in excess of 320 km/h. The V10’s front mid-engine placement, along
with a rear-mounted transmission and rear-mounted radiators, allows for perfect front/rear weight
distribution.
Lexus
Launched in 1989, Lexus has become world-renowned for its pursuit of perfection, the quality of its products and
for its unique concept of complete customer service. Today, Lexus remains the first, and only, premium automotive
manufacturer offering a comprehensive hybrid model range comprising of the RX 400h, the first hybrid SUV; the
GS 450h, the sport performance hybrid sedan; and the flagship LS 600h. Further reinforcing the traditional Lexus
values of peerless build quality, interior luxury and state-of-art technology, the L-finesse design philosophy has been
a highly significant factor in positioning Lexus as a uniquely desirable global brand. In Europe, the mixes of Lexus
Hybrid Drive account for some 60% for the LS range, some 50% for the GS and some 70% for the RX.