naoto fukasawa and tamotsu fujii exhibition: 'the outline' the unseen outline of things

‘grande papilio’ armchair by naoto fukasawa for B &B italia photo by tamotsu fujii

currently on show at 21_21 design sight, tokyo is the exhibition ‘the outline’ – the unseen outline of things featuring works by naoto fukasawa and photos by tamotsu fujii.

art directed by takayuki soeda the exhibition consists of 118 of fukasawa’s product designs and 65 photographs taken by tamotsu fujii taken over a 4 year span. the show will also include lectures and exhibits where visitors will have the opportunity to hear talks by fukasawa and fujii sharing their experiences.

an ‘outline’ is a contour of something. it is also the boundary that delineates an object and its surrounds. since that which surrounds an object is air, the outline of a hole in the air that is shaped like an object is the same as the outline of the object itself. the air is also a metaphor for the atmosphere around that object. this air (atmosphere) is composed of everything that exists around the object – elements such as peoples’ experiences and memories; customs and gestures; time, circumstance and sound; technology and culture; and history and trends. should even one of these elements change, and the outline of the object changes too. people share this outline of the air implicitly. my job is to determine this outline and to design something that slots right into it. – naoto fukasawa

more trees ‘bench’ thinned trees bench photo by tamotsu fujii