Homage to Kuramata

By synthesizing the familiar with the avant-garde, Kuramata created a dynamic and wide-ranging oeuvre that is still celebrated today. His work was distinctly modern in the materials he used, and particularly Japanese in its elegance and simplicity. Nevertheless, Kuramata was always keen to experiment. Driven by a strong desire “to be free of gravity, free of bondage”, his common theme of dematerialization and attempt to defy gravity imbues his work through his use of transparent materials such as acrylic, glass, and expanded steel mesh. As one of Japan’s most important designers of the 20th century, Kuramata belonged to the generation of talented young Japanese that transformed the way that Japan was viewed by the world. Giulio Cappellini, an admirer of Kuramata’s work and his unique design sensibility, sought after the opportunity to work with Kuramata for several months before spontaneously flying to Japan and finally meeting after receiving a letter from the designer. In 1987 Cappellini became one of the first companies to demonstrate Kuramata’s significance in western design. The iconic Italian manufacturer honored Kuramata by selecting him as their premier designer to introduce the Cappellini brand on the international stage and continues to produce a number of original Kuramata designs under license. Kuramata’s work can now be seen in the permanent collections of museums such as the MoMA in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in Toyama, Japan.

Project by Antonio Facco