marimekko exhibition by schemata architects fills gallery with balloons

marimekko marikiska tokyo opening celebrated with a balloon installation by schemata architectsimage © ota takumi　

japanese firm schemata architects designed the exhibition space at gallery rocket for renowned finnish brand marimekko in celebration of opening their temporary shop during tokyo designers’ week. marimekko has opened a number of these spaces – known as ‘marikiska’ – with the japanese location joining those already in helsinki, stockholm and london.

the gallery is located in one of the popular fashionable districts of the de facto capital – known for its down-to-earth atmosphere, schemata wanted to bring this milieu into the rocket by inviting the public to collaborate and deliver a balloon themselves from the marimekko shop in omotesando when visiting the gallery, so that  eventually the space would be filled with colorful balloons – each one representing an iconic marimekko shade.

during the exhibition, free drinks were offered to all visitors wearing marimekko clothes or bringing products from the label, and of course those contributing balloons from the omotesando shop. the installation eventually spread along the harajuku district – permeating the well-known shopping area with the vivid marimekko hues.

the firm wanted to bring the milieu of the harajuku shopping district into the gallery spaceimage © ota takumi　

the gallery is located in one of the popular fashionable districts of tokyoimage © ota takumi　

image © ota takumi　

visitors were asked to bring their own balloons to contribute to the installationimage © schemata

during the exhibition, free drinks were offered to all visitors wearing marimekko clothes or bearing marimekko productsimage © schemata