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. until january 31st, 2009.

the exhibition consists of more than 100 of fukasawa’s product design objects and some 70 photographs taken by tamotsu fujii taken over a 4 year span.

inside the exhibition: a life-size version of tamotsu fujii’s photo studio photo by masaya yoshimura

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightnaoto fukasawa inside the exhibition photo © designboom

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightobjects designed by naoto fukasawa on display and photography by tamotsu fujii photo by masaya yoshimura

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightobjects designed by naoto fukasawa on display and photography by tamotsu fujii photo © designboom

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightexhibition view photo by masaya yoshimura

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightnaoto fukasawa inside the exhibition photo © designboom

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sight‘grande papilio’ armchair by naoto fukasawa for B&B italia photo by tamotsu fujii

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightexhibition view photo by masaya yoshimura

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightexhibition view photo by masaya yoshimura

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sight the courtyard of gallery 21_21 during the outline exhibition photo by masaya yoshimura

the outline by naoto fukasawa at 21_21 design sightthe outline exhibition at 21_21design sight in tokyo midtown photo by masaya yoshimura

‘the outline’ – the unseen outline of things at 21_21 design sight, the miyake issey foundation exhibition design by naoto fukasawa and tamotsu fujii, graphic design by takayuki soeda

the show includes lectures and tours 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 hat slots right into it. – naoto fukasawa

I first met naoto fukasawa when working on a series for the magazine ‘modern living’ the project consisted of a configuration of 3 photos of products designed by naoto fukasawa. this is the 22nd time I’ve photographed his works for the publication; since the magazine comes out every other month, we’ve been playing catch ball like this now for about four years. in his writings, fukasawa notes that there is no electricity or running water at the mountain cabin he built and at which he spends his weekends. he says that it is living with these inconveniences that show him what is really necessary in life. this man, who designs cutting edge industrial products, places himself in both situations – of convenience and inconvenience -when he thinks. I believe that I can trust in the expressions and the words that emerge from such a man. self-denial and a sense of humility towards nature are still necessary for people. ‘objects’ do not tell stories, but in fact behind them lie many words and truths. in the face of products for which embellishments are extraneous, I take photographs as though I were looking at a piece of scenery or at a sculpture. – tamotsu fujii