BCXSY: join folding screen

sayaka yamamoto and boaz cohen portrait © designboom

during milan design week 2010, BCXSY made up of design duo boaz cohen & sayaka yamamoto in collaboration with mr. tanaka, a master in the art of tategu showcased their latest project ‘origing part I: join’ at spazio rossana orlandi.

‘join’ at spazio rossana orlandi image © designboom

‘join’ consists of a series of three space-dividers made using tategu, the traditional craft of japanese wood joinery. in each piece two lined frames are visually merged to create a moment that deviates from the conventional tategu aesthetic, and introduces angles and shapes that are not commonly used in the craft. because the ‘merged’ element within each piece diverges from the traditional process and the conventional aesthetic, the screens become a natural division in the interior.

BCXSY showed designboom an album with detailed photographic documentation of their creative and production process image © designboom

each piece is made from hinoki (japanese cypress), an elegant and pleasantly scented wood that is highly rot-resistant and does not require any additional oils or waxes. hinoki is the most luxurious wood used in the craft of tategu.

photographs showcasing the various tools used for specific tasks in tategu image © designboom

the three screens in the ‘join’ series are available in a limited edition of 8 pieces each and are all handcrafted by mr. tanaka in his workshop in tokyo.

assembly of ‘join’ image © designboom

‘mr. tanaka’s work, and the other works we were exposed to, made a deep and lasting impression. we found the process, the extreme skill and accuracy required by the craft fascinating. we were also inspired by the personal touch each tategu master applies to his work. every piece requires a variety of different tools that are often custom made by the craftsman to address a specific task. there is a hidden dialogue between the tategu master and the work he creates – there is a reason for every step, a story behind every pattern. our challenge manifested itself in developing a project that was innovative yet still honored the traditional aspects of the craft.‘- BCXSY

mr. tanaka at his woodshop