'Modern Japanese Design' opens in Manchester

Modern Japanese design pieces on display in art gallery including costumes, furniture and crafts. — Formerly a 19th century Athenaeum theatre space, Manchester Art Gallery’s newly restored Design Gallery is currently playing host to an exhibition of ’Modern Japanese Design’

(Image credit: TBC)

In the first exhibition since its reopening, Manchester Art Gallery's newly restored Design Gallery has been filled with over a hundred pieces of modern Japanese costume, furniture and crafts collections. Formerly a 19th century Athenaeum theatre space, the Grade II listed building is currently playing host to over 100 pieces by 32 designers drawn from the gallery's own sizeable collections.

The pieces, which span fashion, furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, metalwork and jewellery serve as an overview of the past 50 years of Japanese design as well as an insight into the influence of Buddhism on Japanese aesthetic principles such as minimalism, deconstruction and wabi-sabi.

Highlights include two dramatic head pieces crafted by recent Royal College of Art graduate Maiko Takeda, who has previously created headdresses for Björk's Biophilia tour and now works for Issey Miyake in Japan; fashion by Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto; furniture and lighting by Masanori Umeda and Shiro Kuramata; and crafts by Takahiro Yede and Yasuko Sakura. As well as the work of Japanese designers, the showcase also looks further afield with the inclusion of works by leading UK artists and makers such as star ceramicist Edmund de Waal.

Modern Japanese design pieces in red, black and white on display in an art gallery, featuring costume designs, lighting and craft designs. — Over 100 pieces by 32 designers drawn from the Manchester gallery’s own collections of modern Japanese costume, furniture and crafts are included in the showcase

Two images showing two dramatic hair piece designs. The first is pure white long hair. The second is spiky white hair with red tips. — Highlights include two dramatic head pieces crafted by recent Royal College of Art graduate Maiko Takeda, who has previously created headdresses for Björk’s *Biophilia* tour and now works for Issey Miyake in Japan.

Modern Japanese costume designs in a range of blue, grey and black including floaty dresses and evening wear. — Fashion pieces include designs by Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons), Kenzo Takada (Kenzo), Gnyuki Torimaru (Yuki) and Maiko Takeda.

Two stools of modern Japanese design. The first is black with a curved seat . The second is brown with a woven seat. — The furniture and lighting designs of Masanori Umeda and Shiro Kuramata are included, as are craft pieces by Takahiro Yede and Yasuko Sakura.

Two images of design pieces. The first shows 3 white lamps of differing sizes. The second is a craft piece with several red plastic squares stacked in a spiral. — As well as the work of Japanese designers, the showcase also looks further afield with the inclusion of works by leading UK artists and makers.

A display of various lamp designs of differing sizes, plus a craft design with red plastic squares stacked in a spiral. — Running until 15 January, the exhibition serves as an overview of the past 50 years of Japanese design as well as an insight into the influence of Buddhism on Japanese aesthetic principles such as minimalism, deconstruction, and wabi-sabi.

INFORMATION

'Modern Japanese Design' is on view until 15 January 2017 at Manchester Art Gallery. For more information visit Manchester Art Gallery's website

ADDRESS

Mosley Street
Manchester, M2 3JL

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Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.