Japan House London

14 November – 14 December 2018

Book tickets at www.japanhouselondon.co.uk

To coincide with the exhibition ‘SUBTLE: Delicate or Infinitesimal’, Japan House London are launching a series of workshops and talks led by Japanese designers to explore the limitless possibilities of paper this winter.

Highlights include workshops by Takeo, a specialist paper company based in Tokyo, to create your very own beautiful paper ‘Air Vase’; and an in-conversation with architect ISHIGAMI Junya, who won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.

The winter events are programmed to compliment the latest exhibition – ‘SUBTLE: Delicate or Infinitesimal’– a collection of extraordinary delicate and beautiful sculptures created entirely from paper. 

Admission free, but booking is essential. Please visit www.japanhouselondon.uk to register your place (please note that there are limited places so booking will be on a first-come first-served basis). 

Events include: 

WORKSHOP: MAKING ‘AIR VASES’ WITH TAKEO

The Hall, Japan House 

Wednesday 14 November: 15:30-16:30, 18:30-19:30 

Saturday 17 November: 14:30-15:30, 16:30-17:30

Thursday 29 November: 15:30-16:30, 18:30-19:30

Saturday 8 December, 14:30-15:30, 16:30-17:30

In this workshop each participant will have the opportunity to create their very own paper ‘Air Vase’ (pictured above) – an elegant, easily malleable self-standing structure created entirely from a single sheet of paper by Japanese design firm Torafu Architects. 

This workshop is presented in collaboration with Takeo Co., Ltd., a specialty paper company based in Tokyo and built on the foundation of paper, design and technology. 

Please note that participants must be over 10 years old and children must be accompanied by an adult.

WORKSHOP: THE GEOMETRIST –

MAKING PAPER POLYHEDRA WITH TOMOKO AZUMI

The Library, Japan House
Sunday 25 November: 14:30-17:30
Saturday 1 December: 14:30-17:30

In this hands-on workshop, designer Tomoko AZUMI and her team from TNA Design Studio show participants how to make and decorate complex geometrical structures called polyhedra from simple strips of paper and glue. The workshop uses ‘The Geometrist’ paper DIY kit designed by TNA Design Studio in London and produced by Tokyo-based specialist paper company Takeo. The kit provides templates for creating the five regular polyhedral shapes that have been known since ancient times, as well as introducing possibilities to extend these structures into even more complex shapes.

Please note that participants must purchase ‘The Geometrist’ kit in The Shop in order to take part in the workshop. The Geometrist kit can be purchased from The Shop at Japan House on the day; other decorative materials are provided.

Born in Hiroshima, Japan in 1966, Tomoko Azumi trained as an architect at Kyoto City University of Arts before working for an architectural practice in Tokyo. She later studied Furniture Design at the Royal College of Art. Following a ten-year partnership as AZUMI, Tomoko Azumi opened t.n.a. Design Studio in 2005. Alongside her design practice, she has been involved in teachingat both BA and MA level, giving workshops and being a member of design prize juries including D&AD Design Award, UK; imm Köln Design Award, Germany; and Good Design Award, Japan.

'The Geometrist' is a paper DIY kit to make polyhedra. The first two series consist of templates for Platonic Solids, five regular polyhedra known from ancient times. With a simple method of folded paper strips and gluing corners, this kit provides outline polyhedral structures, which allows you to enjoy three-dimensional forms better than surface models, as well as showing the possibilities to extend the paper structure beyond the basic polyhedra. In November and December The Shop at Japan House will be selling ‘The Geometrist’ DIY paper kit by TNA Design Studio.

TALK: DESIGN TALK WITH TOMOKO AZUMI

The Hall, Japan House 

Thursday 6 December: 18:30-19:30. 

Join us for an in-conversation with multi-talented Japanese furniture, product and interior designer Tomoko AZUMI, founder of the East London based TNA Design Studio. Hear Azumi discuss the inspiration behind her innovative designs and projects, such as the ‘The Geometrist’, a paper DIY Kit that can be used to create complex and beautiful polyhedra from simple folded strips of paper and glue.

The talk is followed by a sake reception supported by Sake Samurai, alongside an opportunity to participate in a special drop-in ‘The Geometrist’ workshop led by Tomoko Azumi and her team in the Japan House Library from 19:30-21:00.

TALK: ARCHITECTURE TALK BY ISHIGAMI JUNYA

The Hall, Japan House 

Tuesday 20 November: 18:30-20:00

This talk offers a rare opportunity to gain insight into the creative mind of internationally acclaimed Japanese architect ISHIGAMI Junya. Known for his highly experimental works that, while firmly rooted in architectural research, draw directly on inspiration from the worlds of nature and fantasy. Ishigami, whose work features in the exhibition ‘SUBTLE: Delicate or Infinitesimal’,will discuss his creative process and vision for contemporary architecture via his studio’s architectural projects.

Born in 1974 in Kanagawa, Japan, Ishigami acquired a master’s degree in architecture and planning at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 2000. After working for Kazuyo Sejima & Associates, he founded his office junya.ishigami+associates in 2004. He became a part time instructor at Tokyo University of Science in 2009, a Project Associate Professor at Tohoku University in 2010, and a guest lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2014. His work has received many awards both in Japan and internationally, including the Golden Lion for Best Project at the 12th Venice Architecture Biennale. 

See ‘SPRING’ by Ishigami Junya in the ‘SUBTLE: Delicate or Infinitesimal’in the Gallery at Japan House London from 13 November – 24 December 2018.  

WORKSHOP: MAKING SANGE WITH MISAWA HARUKA 

The Library, Japan House
Thursday 13 December 16:00-17:00, 18:30-19:30

Friday 14 December 16:00-17:00, 18:30-19:30

Join designer Misawa Haruka in this interactive workshop which takes inspiration from 'Paper Vehicles of Flight', a workdisplayed in the original SUBTLE exhibition when it first showed in Tokyo and Osaka. They are rooted in Misawa’s personal fascination with the movement of paper through air. 

During the workshop participants make paper sange. Based on a Buddhist ceremony with roots in 8th century Japan, multi-coloured paper is folded into the shape of lotus flowers petals and scattered from high so they dance through the air like petals falling from a tree. 

Designer Misawa Haruka was born in Gunma, Japan, in 1982 and graduated from Musashino Art University's Department of Industrial, Interior and Craft Design in 2005. After working at the design office nendo, she joined the Hara Design Institute at Nippon Design Center in 2009. In July 2014, she founded the Misawa Design Institute, and is involved in design in many fields including graphics, products and space planning. Her major works include the VI and entrance sign for KITTE Marunouchi, the 'Paper Flower' and 'Paper Vehicles of Flight' exhibits at the 2014 Takeo Paper Show SUBTLE, and promotional materials for the 'UENO PLANET' program at Ueno Zoo.

See ‘PAPER FLOWER’ by Misawa Haruka in the ‘SUBTLE: Delicate or Infinitesimal’in the Gallery at Japan House London from 13 November – 24 December 2018. Join Misawa on Friday 14 December 12:30-13:00 for a Gallery Talk. 

HOW TO BOOK

For more information please go to www.japanhouselondon.uk or email events@japanhouselondon.uk (for event bookings and enquiries). 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

For details on ‘SUBTLE: Delicate or Infinitesimal’, please visit: www.japanhouselondon.uk 
 

WHEN: Tuesday 13 November – Monday 24 December 2018


WHERE: Japan House, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA


COST: Exhibition admission is FREE


Commenting on SUBTLE curator HARA Kenya: 


“The first UK exhibition of its kind devoted to the delicacy, resilience and importance of paper as a creative medium, my intention with the SUBTLE exhibition is to rethink and broaden the possibilities for fine paper. On show are some highly creative applications for paper that push the boundaries of the medium and demonstrate the very subtle effect that these objects have on the viewer. By bringing these objects so close to the visitor, the white space not only evokes the minimalism of paper but provides a quiet space in which to look closely at its often overlooked and subtle qualities”.