Numerous exhibitions were also held in the Roppongi area. Tokyo Midtown hosted DESIGN TOUCH, a design festival that has been held since 2007 under the concept of “enjoying design through all five senses.” This year, under the theme of “Draw the Future,” works by three groups of leading creators from Japan and abroad were exhibited from DESIGNART TOKYO 2023.

Daiki Tado “Nature or Nurture” (Tokyo Midtown) © Nacása & Partners

Powered by light, Nisshoku gradually lit up to exude a warm glow without the need for electricity. The lamp designed by Yuichiro Morimoto absorbs light rays into its specially treated acrylic surface and releases it. 21B Studio, a design collective formed by Daijiro Arimura, Koeda Kobayashi and Shotaro Tokioka based in Tokyo, showed an “ink couture project”. This innovative design project sought to repurpose non–woven fabrics, used for disposing ink waste from offset printers, and made into a new material. Daiki Tado a member of the design collective MULTISTANDARD, displayed a furniture series focusing on the peculiarity of driftwood as a material, which grew in the mountains but came from the sea.

Tomoya Okoshi “OBJECTRUM”

The cafe “Common,” which opened in Roppongi in May 2022, exhibited Tomoya Okoshi‘s works. OBJECTRUM, made by hands from waste wood, was a series of works that transforms the existence and culture lost in modern life into a style that fits with the living spaces of people today, and particularly created with prayer.

Mai Suzuki Solo Exhibition “Yoshi Zukushi” (JIDA Design Museum) © Nacása & Partners

At JIDA Design Museum located on fourth floor of the AXIS building, a solo exhibition of Mai Suzuki was selected for “UNDER 30,” titled “Yoshi Zukushi”. As president of Namaiki, she explores the Japanese aesthetic sense “Iki” from various perspectives. This exhibition promoted the project of passing on the traditional craft of “Kumiko,” which involves geometrical patterns put together by tiny pieces of wood, to the future. The artist combined 3D models and other technologies to develop a life art work that included dresses and lighting.

This year’s DESIGNART TOKYO, held during the beautiful autumn season, featured many ambitious exhibits full of new proposals and values for the future, giving visitors a sense of the new everyday life after Coronavirus. The next event is scheduled for 10 days from October 18th, 2024. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.

DESIGNART TOKYO 2023
Date: October 20th – 29th, 2023
Area: Omotesando, Gaienmae, Harajuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Hiroo, Ginza, Tokyo
Organizer: DESIGNART TOKYO Committee
https://designart.jp/designarttokyo2023/