'The Original' Exhibition at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo
From now until June 25 2023, 'The Original' exhibition hosted at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT – the museum established by Issey Miyake in 2007 – brings together 150 examples of iconic design, the Punkt. MP02, designed by Jasper Morrison, is included in the exhibition. The design journalist Takahiro Tsuchida curated The Original, which doesn't focus on a particular fashion or trend; instead, it seeks to highlight how the originality of these designs has profoundly influenced our daily lives.
" We live surrounded by a diversity of designs, but we ask how many of them deserve the title of The Original. This exhibition calls attention to products created with genuine verve, fundamental charm, purity, boldness, and strength, each of which we call 'The Original,' " - Takahiro Tsuchida
The 150 products on display were selected by three of the design industry's most forefront figures, Takahiro Tsuchida, Naoto Fukasawa, and Kaoru Tashiro, who have chosen pieces from the late 19th century to the present day. The product categories range from furniture, tableware, textiles, and toys and feature the likes of the Dieter Rams Calculator for Braun, the Flos May Day lamp by Konstantin Grcic, Angelo Mangiarotti's Eros coffee table and Charles and Ray Eames' post-war mold laminated chair, and even a wastepaper bin designed by Clara von Zweigbergk for HAY. Other designs by Jasper Morrison showcased in the exhibition are the Moon teapot and his Drinking Man's Chair.
The exhibition takes visitors back to the essence of good design by presenting pieces that are immediately recognisable, even years after their creation. There is a clear link between the designs and their makers, while and seeks to inspire future generations to create timeless pieces.
The exhibition installation has a Japanese touch, giving a sense of minimalism, warmth, and calm. The designs are presented with texts and photographs taken by the photographer Gottingham, offering the visitors the ease of experiencing the true appeal of the design classics from different perspectives.
The Original is at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT until June 25.
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT
Midtown Garden,
Tokyo Midtown,
9-7-6 Akasaka,
Minato-ku, Tokyo,
Japan
